Star of the Lakers in the early 90s before the days of Kobe and Shaq, Nick Van Exel has now been in the transmission for more than ten years. The former point guard learned the trade between NCAA, G-League and NBA. His longest experience as an assistant was three years at the Grizzlies (2016-2019). He then did two years of scouting for Dallas before joining the Hawks staff just under a year ago.
Promoted to head coach of the Hawks’ Summer League squad, which includes two French players (Joël Ayayi and Alpha Kaba) and three contract players (Sharife Cooper and Chaundee Brown, on two-way contract, and 16th draft pick AJ Griffin), Nick Van Exel will of course have the primary mission of maximizing the potential of his workforce.
To achieve this, coach Van Exel will bet on the proximity card with his players to try to get the best out of them. With methods probably much less rigid than those he knew when he was still playing.
« You know, the most important thing today is to learn how to communicate with a different generation of players. You know, being positive, having a good impact on them how they play, and how other people will perceive you “, he slipped.
Proximity and work
In practice and in this last stage context which can potentially open a door in the NBA, the Hawks coach will remain on post-training, development. Content and attitudes will be at least as important, if not more so, than the outcome.
“As the Summer League approaches, it doesn’t really matter which team you play for. It’s the other 29 teams that will have their eyes on your guys. So I just teach them to do things right, on and off the pitch, to have good attitudes, on the pitch, on the bench, you know, to be a good, positive teammate.”, he added.
He will have to act between flexibility and rigor, and find a way to accompany his group on the right path in terms of work, a point that seems close to his heart.
“I think the most important part for young players is to work, work, work, especially in the summer, and pay attention to detail. When you’re young and you want to play in the NBA, you have to earn the trust of the coach. For that, you have to work hard, show that you can play well, make the right readings offensively and fight hard defensively.
The Hawks start their Summer League against the Jazz on Saturday.
The Hawks’ Summer League roster: Sharife Cooper, AJ Griffin, Joel Ayayi, Tyrese Martin, Alpha Kaba, Tyson Etienne, Max Heidegger, Marcus Georges-Hunt, James Akinjo, Grant Golden, Anthony Duruji, Chandler Hutchison, Chris Clemons, Chaundee Brown Jr, Justin Tillman