re: Per Sam Amick . Here are the finalists

I agree about Rondo. He has the most name recognition of the choices to casual fans.

I looked up the ages of candidates

Rondo - 40
Sweeney - 41
Hetzel - 45
Ham - 52

I really thought Ham was older than that. He is my age.

AI breakdown:

Rondo:
Elite "Floor General" Mentor: Rondo focuses heavily on teaching guard play, specifically improving assist numbers, playmaking, and helping players make smarter reads and passes.
Player-Focused Communicator: He works with players on understanding effective communication on the court to avoid missed opportunities.
Intense and Analytical: Known for conducting intense, high-standard practices and performing detailed, sharp film sessions with players.
Defensive-Minded: Rondo stresses accountability and brings a "dogged defender" mentality to his teaching.

Sweeney:
Defensive Architect: Sweeney is specialized in building top-tier defenses,, acting as the key assistant behind the Mavs' defensive turnaround and contributing to the Spurs' elite defensive ranking in 2026. He excels at implementing "help-and-recover" systems that use situational switching and smart rotations to confuse opponents.
Elite Player Developer: He has a reputation for intense, hands-on development, including working closely with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee and, more recently, Derrick Lively II.
Strategic & Analytical: Known for in-depth film study and game-planning, he focuses heavily on late-game strategies, situational drills, and exploiting opponent weaknesses.
Work Ethic: Peers and players describe him as incredibly hardworking, often conducting extra, late-night training sessions with

Hetzel
Player Development Specialist: Hetzel built his reputation by creating player progression plans, starting with the Detroit Pistons (2009–2013) and continuing through roles with the Hornets, Magic, Trail Blazers, and Nets.
Defensive Focus: His approach is heavily influenced by his time under coaches like Steve Clifford and his experience in the San Antonio Spurs system, prioritizing discipline and proper positioning.
Video Room Background: He began his career in the video room, allowing him to connect with players through detailed film analysis to improve their in-game reads."Unflappable"
Leader: Described as calm and prepared, he has served as a G-League head coach (Canton Charge) and led multiple Summer League squads, making him a candidate for head coaching positions.

Ham
Defensive Focus: A disciple of Mike Budenholzer, Ham emphasizes high-effort team defense and individual responsibility in guarding the ball.
Player's Coach: Often described as a connector, Ham is respected for his ability to build trust, communicate effectively, and relate to players, often citing his own experience as a 9-year NBA journeyman and champion.
Toughness and Accountability: He stresses a hardworking, "no-nonsense" approach, aiming for a blue-collar mentality on the floor.
Challenges in Game Management: His head coaching tenure was marked by criticism regarding in-game adjustments, inconsistent lineups, and a lack of a clear offensive structure.

Rondo with Mosely as lead assistant

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contributing to the Spurs' elite defensive ranking in 2026

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yeah ok. It's so hard to come up with a defensive plan when you have a 7'4" goaltending monster hanging around the paint all game.


Spurs DRtg with Wemby - 106.8 (would be 2nd best in the league)
Spurs DRtg without Wemby - 116.5 (would be 22nd best in the league)

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acting as the key assistant behind the Mavs' defensive turnaround

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What turnaround was that? He was there from '21 to '25
The Mavs were below 110 Drtg from 2015 to 2019, went up to 116 in 2020.
in the 5 years he was there they were: 113, 109, 116, 115, 116. Not sure where the defensive turnaround happened.

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He has a reputation for intense, hands-on development, including working closely with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee

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Again, you can't take credit for helping out one of the freakish athletes on the planet be good at basketball.





And i say all that not to say Sweeney would be a bad choice to hire, as I would much rather him over Ham, and probably a lot of other guys as well, but let's not go tooting his horn over things he had very little influence over, as well as things that aren't even true.

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In the end they'll go with Ham because he probably already lives on Joe's couch, and then they'll tout his Associate Head Coach experience compared to the inexperience of the other candidates

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“Darvin brings a championship pedigree to this organization, both as a player and as an assistant coach. He also won the first ever In Season Tournament as a coach, and we feel like he has the leadership qualities to bring those type of championships to the Pelicans organization. This team, these players, and most importantly, this city deserves it.”

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Rondo with Mosely as lead assistant

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Would be a positive choice. If Rondo were chosen, he would definitely need a strong assistant with experience.

Good listen.

1.) Hetzel
2.) Rondo
3.) Sweeney. In this order.

If we have to go to Ham it means we got turned down by multiple candidates.

It makes me miserable to think we’ve fallen that far and with 2 promising rookies the best we can get is Ham. The Lakers are among the easiest franchises to win big in the NBA, if Ham couldn’t get it done there he has no chance with the Pels.

Sweeney is reportedly being considered by the Bulls