Then and now: What NBA coaches looked like when they were players

Advertisement
Then and now: What NBA coaches looked like when they were players

Steve Kerr

Tim Boyle/AP

Steve Kerr won some rings as a player also.

Advertisement
  • All 30 NBA head coaches were once players at various levels.
  • Of the 30 coaches, nine played in the NBA and several more played professionally in Europe.
  • We collected photos and images of 22 current NBA head coaches from their playing days.

All NBA head coaches are former players and it can be a bit jarring to see what they looked like when they were the ones in jerseys, shorts, and sneakers.

Of the 30 head coaches in the NBA during the 2018-19 season, nine are former NBA players. Five others played professional basketball in Europe, and all played hoops in college.

Below, we collected photos and images of 22 coaches from their playing days.

{{}}

Mike D'Antoni — Houston Rockets

Mike D'Antoni — Houston Rockets

D'Antoni played at Marshall University. He also played four seasons in the NBA and ABA with the Kings, Spurs, and Spirits, as well as several seasons in Europe.

D'Antoni played at Marshall University. He also played four seasons in the NBA and ABA with the Kings, Spurs, and Spirits, as well as several seasons in Europe.
Advertisement

Larry Drew — Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Drew — Cleveland Cavaliers

—

Drew played college basketball at the University of Missouri and then 10 seasons in the NBA with the Pistons, Kings, Clippers, and Lakers.

Drew played college basketball at the University of Missouri and then 10 seasons in the NBA with the Pistons, Kings, Clippers, and Lakers.
Advertisement

Rick Carlisle — Dallas Mavericks

Rick Carlisle — Dallas Mavericks

Carlisle played at the University of Maine before five seasons in the NBA with the Celtics, Knicks, and Nets. He won an NBA championship with the Celtics in 1986.

Carlisle played at the University of Maine before five seasons in the NBA with the Celtics, Knicks, and Nets. He won an NBA championship with the Celtics in 1986.
Advertisement

Steve Kerr — Golden State Warriors

Steve Kerr — Golden State Warriors

Kerr played at the University of Arizona and then spent 15 seasons in the NBA with six teams. He won five championship rings as a player.

Kerr played at the University of Arizona and then spent 15 seasons in the NBA with six teams. He won five championship rings as a player.
Advertisement

Nate McMillan — Indiana Pacers

Nate McMillan — Indiana Pacers

McMillan played at North Carolina State and then spent 12 seasons with the SuperSonics.

McMillan played at North Carolina State and then spent 12 seasons with the SuperSonics.
Advertisement

Erik Spoelstra — Miami Heat

Erik Spoelstra — Miami Heat

Spoelstra played at the University of Portland.

Spoelstra played at the University of Portland.
Advertisement

Spoelstra was also on the court against Loyola-Marymount the night Hank Gathers died.

Spoelstra was also on the court against Loyola-Marymount the night Hank Gathers died.

Doc Rivers — Los Angeles Clippers

Doc Rivers — Los Angeles Clippers
Advertisement

Rivers played at Marquette followed by 13 seasons in the NBA with four clubs. He was an All-Star in 1988 with the Hawks.

Rivers played at Marquette followed by 13 seasons in the NBA with four clubs. He was an All-Star in 1988 with the Hawks.

Luke Walton — Los Angeles Lakers

Luke Walton — Los Angeles Lakers
Advertisement

Walton played college hoops at the University of Arizona and then spent 11 seasons in the NBA with the Lakers and Cavs. He won two rings as a player.

Walton played college hoops at the University of Arizona and then spent 11 seasons in the NBA with the Lakers and Cavs. He won two rings as a player.

Billy Donovan — Oklahoma City Thunder

Billy Donovan — Oklahoma City Thunder
Advertisement

Donovan led sixth-seeded Providence to the Final Four in 1987. He later spent one season in the NBA with the Knicks, playing under his former college coach, Rick Pitino.

Donovan led sixth-seeded Providence to the Final Four in 1987. He later spent one season in the NBA with the Knicks, playing under his former college coach, Rick Pitino.

Scott Brooks — Washington Wizards

Scott Brooks — Washington Wizards
Advertisement

Brooks played at TCU and UC-Irvine. He spent 10 seasons in the NBA with six teams.

Brooks played at TCU and UC-Irvine. He spent 10 seasons in the NBA with six teams.

Brad Stevens — Boston Celtics

Brad Stevens — Boston Celtics
Advertisement

Stevens played college hoops at DePauw.

Stevens played college hoops at DePauw.

Kenny Atkinson — Brooklyn Nets

Kenny Atkinson — Brooklyn Nets
Advertisement

Atkinson played at Richmond and then spent more than a decade playing for several clubs in Europe.

Atkinson played at Richmond and then spent more than a decade playing for several clubs in Europe.

Gregg Popovich — San Antonio Spurs

Gregg Popovich — San Antonio Spurs
Advertisement

Popovich played basketball at the Air Force Academy. He was later a member of an All-Star US Armed Forces Team that toured Eastern Europe and Russia.

Popovich played basketball at the Air Force Academy. He was later a member of an All-Star US Armed Forces Team that toured Eastern Europe and Russia.

Dwane Casey — Detroit Pistons

Dwane Casey — Detroit Pistons
Advertisement

Casey played at Kentucky and won an NCAA championship in 1978.

Casey played at Kentucky and won an NCAA championship in 1978.

J. B. Bickerstaff — Memphis Grizzlies

J. B. Bickerstaff — Memphis Grizzlies
Advertisement

Bickerstaff played college ball at Oregon State and Minnesota.

Bickerstaff played college ball at Oregon State and Minnesota.

Mike Budenholzer — Milwaukee Bucks

Mike Budenholzer — Milwaukee Bucks
Advertisement

Budenholzer played at Pomona Pitzer.

Budenholzer played at Pomona Pitzer.

Brett Brown — Philadelphia 76ers

Brett Brown — Philadelphia 76ers
Advertisement

Brown played at Boston University.

Brown played at Boston University.

Nick Nurse — Toronto Raptors

Nick Nurse — Toronto Raptors
Advertisement

Nurse played at the University of Northern Iowa.

Nurse played at the University of Northern Iowa.

Quin Snyder — Utah Jazz

Quin Snyder — Utah Jazz
Advertisement

Snyder played in three Final Fours at Duke.

Snyder played in three Final Fours at Duke.

Alvin Gentry — New Orleans Pelicans

Alvin Gentry — New Orleans Pelicans
Advertisement

Gentry played at Appalachian State.

Gentry played at Appalachian State.

Lloyd Pierce — Atlanta Hawks

Lloyd Pierce — Atlanta Hawks
Advertisement

Pierce played at Santa Clara and later spent a few seasons in Europe before beginning his coaching career.

Pierce played at Santa Clara and later spent a few seasons in Europe before beginning his coaching career.

Michael Malone — Denver Nuggets

Michael Malone — Denver Nuggets
Advertisement

Malone played at Loyola-Maryland.

Malone played at Loyola-Maryland.
Next StoryWarriors president Rick Welts explains why their new, $1.4 billion, self-financed stadium was a perfect storm other teams can't replicate