It’s not that college coaches haven’t succeeded in the NBA - it’s that, more specifically, there’s a poor track record for college coaches becoming NBA head coaches without ever having coached in the league, even as an assistant. The only two success stories in the modern era have been Brad Stevens and Billy Donovan, the latter being considered competent rather than great. Every case is different - the past isn’t necessarily predictive - but from what you say about Hurley’s leadership style, it doesn’t look promising.
It’s not that college coaches haven’t succeeded in the NBA - it’s that, more specifically, there’s a poor track record for college coaches becoming NBA head coaches without ever having coached in the league, even as an assistant. The only two success stories in the modern era have been Brad Stevens and Billy Donovan, the latter being considered competent rather than great. Every case is different - the past isn’t necessarily predictive - but from what you say about Hurley’s leadership style, it doesn’t look promising.
Loved the Mike Montgomery quote and your phrase “new-team smell.”
Great piece.
Tremendous line: "It’s like they’ve replaced clubhouse beer with juice boxes."
Part of the reason along with exorbitant salaries you mentioned that most pro sports are just too unrelatable these days.