- Tim Duncan
Duncan is another player that will most likely never take up coaching on the NBA level, but if he wanted to, he may have more upside than anyone on this list. After spending about 20 years playing under Coach Popovich, Duncan may be the most well coached player to ever lace ‘em up. Though we will likely never see it, how great would it be if Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili all joined forces to coach the Spurs after Coach Pop retires?
- Rajon Rondo
Rondo is a question mark when it comes to coaching. Could he do it? Absolutely. Does he understand the game? As well as anyone. Do people like him? Not one bit. From a strategic standpoint, no one is better than Rajon Rondo. He knows how to pick apart defenses and make just about everyone look foolish. But that’s not all it takes to be a coach. Rondo is known for getting into it with coaches when things do not go his way. Though this is not a good sign, it is not necessarily a bad one either. Rondo loves control, he loves to know that he has the ability to make decisions and that’s what he would have as a coach.
This list has players of different statures and talents, but they all have the qualities that could make them elite coaches if they so choose. Though it is unlikely that we will ever see LeBron or Duncan on the sidelines drawing up plays, they certainly would be great at it. Rondo is a question mark because of his poor attitude, but his knowledge makes him someone that every team would have to consider. J.J. and Andre are the most likely to take on the task of coaching when they retire and if they do, watch out, because they will be able to do it as well as anybody.
–Michael Hersey
