Trading Places

July 22, 2010

By: Talia Bargil
For NBPA.com

Professional athletes are not known for embracing game-time minutes spent on the sideline. But when about 20 current and former NBA players participated in the recent NBPA Coaching Development Program, they welcomed the invaluable opportunity to learn right alongside the infamous bench.

As part of the NBPA Top 100 High School Basketball Camp at the University of Virginia last June, several players took advantage of the unique program geared toward those interested in exploring the coaching profession as their next career.

“Even though I’ve been playing this game forever, looking at it from the other side, as a coach, is a whole different thing,” said Jerry Stackhouse, 15-year NBA veteran. “I’ve been receiving scouting reports before every game my whole career, but I didn’t realize all the work that goes in to creating them until now!”

While Stackhouse says he still has plenty of fuel in his tank, the Program afforded him the rare chance to coach the best high school players in the country and take a hard look at what could be his potential post-playing career.

The Top 100 Camp, widely recognized as one of the top basketball camps in the country and exists to prepare rising juniors and seniors for life on and off the court, placed NBA players – matched up with elite high school coaches – at the helm of each squad. Together, they worked intensively with campers, coached teams, taught basketball fundamentals and led skill development stations in one-on-one and group settings.

Participants included current players Mark Blount, Matt Carroll, Brian Cook, Chris Duhon, Maurice Evans, Anthony Johnson, Coby Karl, Kevin Ollie, Theo Ratliff, James Singleton, Brian Skinner, Jerry Stackhouse and Ime Udoka. Retired players included P.J. Brown, Eldridge Recasner, J.R. Reid, Sean Rooks and Gary Trent.

Campers marveled as Ratliff showed his team’s big men the power post moves that deemed him a shot blocker, and Chris Duhon demonstrated how to run the break and execute offensive plays. Stackhouse had the young men in a frenzy as they tirelessly attempted to defend the NBA All-Star and mimic his famous crossover.

In-between the on-court action, the NBA players hit the classroom as part of their four-day coaching intensive led by Brendan Suhr, recognized worldwide as a basketball coaching expert who has coached more than 2,500 NBA games.

Joined by Players Programs staff and NBA veterans Ed Pinckney and Calvin Booth, Suhr gave the NBA players an inside look at essential coaching skills, including studying game film, scouting players and creating a coaching game plan, among numerous other coaching proficiencies.

“This Program has been unbelievable,” said Maurice Evans, Atlanta Hawks guard/forward and NBPA Vice President. “It has allowed me to gain perspective and experience that will be priceless when I transition into coaching.”

In addition to the NBPA Coaching Development Program, the Union offers its players a host of other Programs to help them grow, personally and professionally. With a number of initiatives focused on post-playing options, the NBPA works year round to see to it that NBA players have a wide variety of learning opportunities at their fingertips.

The new Leadership Development Program was designed to prepare and train current NBA players for a post-playing career in an NBA team’s front office, particularly its basketball operations department. Kicking off its inaugural session this past month in Las Vegas, the comprehensive Program, headed up by Suhr, focuses on topics ranging from free agency and contract negotiations to agent relationships, the NBA Draft and much more.

“The three-day day intensive allows the participating players to learn from the best minds in NBA management positions,” said Suhr. “Whether it is managing a team, building a roster, scouting talent or even positions of ownership, there is a tremendous need for former NBA players to fill those roles. This Program gives players the tools they need to do just that.”

Another popular summer Program is Sportscaster U, the NBPA’s three-day interactive seminar for current players interested in pursuing a broadcast journalism career. Held at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, participants gain hands-on experience in broadcast basics, as well as game coverage, interviewing techniques, studio performance and equipment technology.

"The NBPA is committed to providing programs and services that enhance the careers of all Members, both on and off the court. We encourage all players to participate and take advantage of all the Union offers,” said Purvis Short, NBPA Director of Player Programs. “All programs and services are consistent with our philosophy of creating and offering NBA players with programs that provide the requisite education, knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.”

After all, like it or not, every NBA player winds up on the sideline someday.

And whether that time is sooner or later, why not be ready for it?