Patrick Ewing no longer the frontrunner for Charlotte Bobcats head coach position - NBA Update
For a brief moment, it seemed like Charlotte Bobcats search for an ultimate coach will come to an end with Patrick Ewing.
But Rod Higgins, Bobcats’ president of basketball operations said that the franchise will hire the new coach in a few days time but it will not be Ewing.
Ewing was told by the club’s minority owner Michael Jordan that they are looking for someone else to replace Paul Silas. Bobcats fired Silas a month ago he was held responsible for Bobcats 7-59 regular season abrupt record.
Patrick, a long time friend of MJ was thought to have the brightest of chances. He was eagerly waiting for a head coaching position. Ewing has served under the Orlando Magic ex Coach Stan Van Gundy for a long time and has been
yearning to prove himself on the bigger stage. Previously he disclosed that he is ready for the next stage, coaching a team on his own.
“I’ve put in the work,” he said recently. “I’ve learned from a lot of very good coaches in Stan (Van Gundy), Jeff (Van Gundy), and Doug Collins, and I’ve played for a lot of great coaches. All I need is an opportunity, and once
I get that opportunity, hopefully I’ll be successful.
Once Ewing agenda is off the table the club will explore further options. In a recent development, sources close to the franchise revealed that Bobcats had tried to reach Stan Van Gundy with the proposal, but he turned down the
offer as he is planning to take a year off.
The Bobcats will interview Indiana Pacers assistant Coach Brian Shaw on Friday and Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Quin Snyder on June 4th.
Former Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was also considered for the coaching position, however Sloan is still weighing his options to return to the mainstream game after an interval of 1 year. Apart of the aforementioned names there
is a long list of candidates eyeing the position.
The franchise is working on the list and once it has been narrowed down, the scrutinized applicants will meet MJ face to face for the final decision.
The new hire will be assuming a massive responsibility. Bobcats got the 1st lottery pick, something that they have been looking forward to, for a long time. They are planning to rebuild the team around young talent.
In the continuity of that plan they have already traded or waived most of their key experienced players.
The new coach will be mentoring rookies and freshmen. But most importantly the new coach will have to wash the stigma of worst team in the history. Bobcats concluded the season with a 0.106 winning percentage, the worst ever, even
surpassing the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers.
Only the time will decide who get the reins of Charlotte in his hands but the decision will be taken before the NBA draft deadline.
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