P.J. Carlesimo’s career with the Spurs as an assistant coach never intersected with Avery Johnson’s when he played with the team.
But the power of Gregg Popovich’s coaching philosophy apparently has a couple of mutual adherents and kindred spirits in Carlesimo and Johnson.
Yahoo Sports reports that Carlesimo, formerly the lead assistant with the Toronto Raptors,to join Johnson’s coaching staff with the New Jersey Nets.
It’s a move that would make sense on a number of levels. The coaching philosophies of Johnson and Carlesimo are intertwined after their work with the Spurs.
And Carlesimo, a former head coach at Seton Hall, is a beloved and legendary figure in the New York City area. His arrival could help the Nets immensely as they transition into their upcoming move to Brooklyn with the completion of the Barclays Center in September 2012.
Carlesimo’s tenure with the Raptors ended when Dwane Casey took over the team. He still has one more year left on his contract with the team, but would like to come back to the NBA for the right situation.
Returning to the Nets to work with Johnson could be a dream matchup for both of them.