Ettore Messina — Spurs Assistant Coach
The branches of the Gregg Popovich coaching tree are sprawling and full of success throughout the entire NBA. There have been numerous assistants and personnel that have worked under Pop with the San Antonio Spurs that have gone on to have great careers as head coaches in this league. Given that, it’s looking like current San Antonio assistant Ettore Messina looks like the next candidate to make that move and the Lakers should see if he will make that move to Los Angeles.
Obviously every organization in the NBA wants to be the Spurs. They are the picture of longevity and a dynasty as a franchise. And while that’s not totally replicable for every other franchise in the NBA, it’s the type of blueprint and experience that you want coaches and front office members to have. Moreover, you have contemporary examples like Mike Budenholzer with the Atlanta Hawks that show what can happen with a team when someone from the Spurs comes in and institutes on and off court principles.
Though the case with Messina as an assistant coach—and with every coach really—really revolves around whether or not he wants to leave the Spurs right now to take a head coaching job, he makes a ton of sense if you’re the Lakers. As such, it only makes sense that LA would at least set up a meeting to see if Messina could very well be the right man to replace Byron.
Next: Kevin Ollie, UConn