Heading into this offseason, several NBA sources said the expectation was that most of the head coach openings could be filled by African Americans. According to NBA sources, the list of African American assistant coaches who interviewed for jobs included the Los Angeles Lakers’ Jason Kidd and Phil Handy, the Dallas Mavericks’ Jamahl Mosley, the Denver Nuggets’ Wes Unseld Jr., the Golden State Warriors’ Mike Brown, the Philadelphia 76ers’ Sam Cassell, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Darvin Ham and Charles Lee, the Brooklyn Nets’ Udoka and Jacque Vaughn, the Clippers’ Billups, the New Orleans Pelicans’ Teresa Weatherspoon and the Timberwolves’ David Vanterpool. Sources said Dawn Staley, USA Basketball women’s head coach and University of South Carolina women’s head coach, was another African American considered for NBA openings, but she was focused on the Olympics.
Teresa Weatherspoon Rumors
Sources say other Black NBA assistant coaches who are considered candidates include the Los Angeles Lakers’ Jason Kidd, the Mavericks’ Jamahl Mosley, the Nuggets’ Wes Unseld Jr., the Golden State Warriors’ Mike Brown, the Philadelphia 76ers’ Sam Cassell, the Brooklyn Nets’ Ime Udoka and Jacque Vaughn, the Pelicans’ Teresa Weatherspoon and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ David Vanterpool.
Ime Udoka the favorite in Pelicans coaching search?
Scott Kushner: Odds from BetOnline: Next New Orleans Pelicans Head Coach Ime Udoka – 4/1, Jacque Vaughn -5/1, Teresa Weatherspoon -5/1, Jason Kidd -11/2, Charles Lee – 6/1, Fred Vinson – 6/1, Terry Stotts – 7/1, Becky Hammon-9/1, Chauncey Billups -10/1, Wes Unseld Jr. -12/1, Jeff Van Gundy – 25/1
Two potential in-house candidates to replace Van Gundy are assistants Fred Vinson and Teresa Weatherspoon, though Griffin said during his news conference Wednesday that her candidacy was “premature.” If hired, of course, Weatherspoon would not just be the first woman full-time head coach in the NBA, but in any major American men’s professional sport. Outside candidates likely to get a look include Chauncey Billups, currently a Clippers assistant, and Jacque Vaughn, an assistant in Brooklyn.
Will Guillory: Griffin says he spoke with Teresa Weatherspoon today. He said her candidacy is “premature” and people may have read too much into her being named the team’s Summer League coach.
Will Guillory: Can confirm that Stan Van Gundy is out as Pelicans coach, first reported by ESPN. Sources say Pelicans assistant Teresa Weatherspoon is a serious candidate to be the next head coach in New Orleans.
