NBA The Fake Coach
Some little boys wish to grow up and play basketball for the NBA for obvious reasons: fame and fortune. It might come true quicker, if their dads are famous basketball players like LeBron James, Bronny’s dad or Dwyane Wade, Zaire’s father.
How about coaching? I don’t recall hearing about boys who wish to be basketball coaches when they grow up. Why? Headaches. Coaches have a multi-disciplinary job, to use a big academic word. They are father, brother, kindergarten teacher, psychologist, preacher, traffic cop, you name it.
However, the biggest headache for any coach is the pseudo-coach or the fake coach. That one player who sees himself as the glue that binds everything. Sports media is partly to blame because they elevate certain players to that mind set for example: Kyle Lowry when he was with Toronto Raptors.
The coach has a game plan obviously, that is thrashed out before the game. It is also in those iPads assistant coaches carry around. Coaches’ headache becomes worse when the fake coach whispers something to his team mates during the game. What is he saying? Is he contradicting the game plan?
Coaches grin and bear because they cannot call fake coaches to order in front of television cameras. Some fake coaches go further. They challenge referee decisions, like Kyle Lowry.
Sometimes it was irritating to fans, who expect the coach to handle such matters. Lowry would even go and try to see what was in electronic devices that monitor the game.
Fast forward to Game 2, NBA Finals tonight. Let’s hope Ime Udoka, Boston Celtics Head Coach and Steve Kerr Golden State Warriors Head Coach, will not have to deal with fake or pseudo-coaches.
By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.
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