A strong relationship that LeBron James built with a coach Nick Nurse was an important factor in Art Sixershot start ESPN’s Brian Windhorst writes in a column with Tim McMahon. Windhorst notes that James never worked with Nurse before signing with Philadelphia this summer, but the two spoke several times before training camp and were able to avoid the awkwardness that often exists when James joins a new team.
“LeBron didn’t feel comfortable with (the Heat coach Erik Spoelstra) at the beginning, and many people think he wanted to be fired in the first month (of 2010-11).” – says a veteran NBA executive to Windhorst. “He never gave David Blatt chance (when James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers), and it went sideways very quickly when he went to Los Angeles with Luke (Walton). On the surface, (Nurse and James) look like they work very well together.’
James has been poised to take on a multi-faceted role with the Sixers that includes serving as the offense’s lead creator in some games, as well as filling in at center when injuries have sidelined several of the team’s big men. Nurse applauds the knowledge James has accumulated over his long career, and Windhorst notes that James made a statement before the season started praising Nurse for his accomplishments in Toronto.
“(LeBron) had a good relationship with JJ (Reddick) from day one (with the Lakers) and they worked well together and that’s the best way to live.” said the Western Conference assistant coach. “If LeBron thinks you’re smart and you give him the opportunity to succeed, he’s going to respect you.”
More from Windhorst and McMahon:
- “Memphis is last year’s Phoenix” Western Conference scout tells McMahon about Grizzlies‘ unexpected 6-2 start. For now You, Jerome garners the most attention for his hitting streak, McMahon notes that the core of the team is built around four productive starters on rookie contracts: Cameron Boozer, Cedric Coward, Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells. That leaves the CEO Zach Clayman with plenty of flexibility to make major additions at the deadline or next summer, or, as McMahon suggests, possibly use “pre-agency” to target a future restricted free agent in a trade instead of waiting until the offseason to submit an offer letter.
- With a 1-7 record and a collection of veterans on the roster, the Clippers are seen as likely sellers as the shopping season heats up, McMahon adds. He points to Brooke Lopez, Chris Dunn, Rui Hachimura, Max Strus and Derrick Jones Jr as players who could be attractive to playoff teams. All of their contracts are expiring except for Hachimura, who has a $14 million team cap for next season.
- Any perceived tension between The necklaces center Damantas Sabonis and rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr it is a “non-story,” according to Windhorst. There are whispers that Sabonis is unhappy with Acuff’s high number of shots, but sources tell Windhorst that Sabonis recognizes Acuff’s scoring talent and enjoys having him as a teammate.
