The whole Kobe maelstrom seems to have had a lasting effect on Chicago GM John Paxson: this coaching search he's working through has been relatively hushed. Just last night, through Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski and Dan Wetzel, we learn Rick Carlisle has already interviewed for the gig. But the bigger news is the rumor Pax's considering Michigan State coach Tom Izzo.And Izzo doesn't refuse the proposal outright. In fact, it sounds like he really would like to give the league a shot.
"I go back and forth on (coaching in the NBA)," he continued. "I still think it's the ultimate level. There is something about it. I look at it and say, 'It's a real challenge.' But I love what I do too. I go down and look at what the Pistons (coaches) do in preparation and I think, 'That's insane.'Basically, being a basketball coach at any of the top levels is insane. Could Izzo succeed in the pros? The old canard about college coaches failing in the NBA is overblown and too general. Reggie Theus seemed to do alright this year. Hiring any first-time pro coach is a crap shoot, whether it's a longtime assistant-in-waiting (Mike Brown or Larry Krystowiak), a recent ex-player (Avery Johnson, Nate McMillan), or a college guy (Theus, Tim Floyd).
"But I look at what I do in terms of recruiting and I think, 'That's insane.'"
These labels -- and that's all the talking heads will focus on today, the question of whether a college coach can succeed -- obfuscate the real question: Can Izzo handle it? I don't pretend to know. But if he wants an interview -- and it sounds like he does -- you give him one. Let him tell you what he can do with Ben Gordon and Luol Deng.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. The Bulls would be very lucky to even have Izzo consider them. And I am not even a fan of his or MSU. Go Buckeyes!
Posted at 1:05PM on Apr 23rd 2008 by Rich
2. There's no question Izzo is a great coach at the collegiate level, but who knows how his style will transfer to the pros. If the Bulls can land Carlisle, I'd say he'd be the obvious choice.
Posted at 2:08PM on Apr 23rd 2008 by Ryne Nelson
3. As he told me, "do people really believe I would treat 22-35-olds the same way I do 17-21-year-old kids? I don't understand that."
I think the Bulls need someone that understands you can relate to different players differently. Not everyone responds to the "You-suck-so-work-your-ass-harder" mantra of Skiles.
Posted at 3:56PM on Apr 23rd 2008 by Tyger