Before he thought of being a coach, Nets interim head coach Kevin Ollie was a well-traveled NBA player. The former UConn Husky played 15 years in the NBA, traveling all over the country for 12 teams in his career. Ollie was a serviceable role player, as he was reliable in stabilizing the game with his ball-handling and defense.
After his playing career ended, Ollie immediately thrust himself into the coaching world, returning to his alma mater to be an assistant coach. He was fast-tracked to the head coach role, which he held for six years until 2018. After a stint with the Overtime Elite, he took an assistant coach job for the Nets in 2023, then got promoted to interim head coach after Jacque Vaughn's exit.
“I wanted to be of service. I wanna serve my players and my coaches that are beside me. I want them to be the best version of themselves. People can call me a coach, but I'm more of a life coach instead of a basketball coach,” Ollie said about what led to his shift to coaching.
Ollie has always been helpful
When Ollie was still an NBA player, he was well-regarded because of his status as a helpful veteran. He was always dependable, helping his teammates adjust to the league or the team. That was a valuable characteristic for a veteran, making him a seamless fit for any team.
Coach KO was a player front office people knew had an impact on his teammates. Former Cleveland Cavaliers GM Jim Paxson signed Ollie in the 2003/04 season because he knew the veteran guard was a good influence on his teammates, particularly a rookie LeBron James.
Ollie will keep guiding his players to the right path
Now that Ollie has experience as an NBA head coach, further opportunities await him. That can be with Brooklyn, as he can impress Nets GM Sean Marks and team governor Joe Tsai.
In the meantime, Ollie will keep doing his job as the interim head coach and guiding the Nets to a potential Play-In Tournament run. It’s a path riddled with obstacles, but Ollie is ready for the challenge in the name of guiding youngsters toward the path of success.
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