Kevin Garnett could be perfect head coach for New Orleans Pelicans future

The New Orleans Pelicans seem increasingly likely to be shopping for a new head coach this summer; it should be someone who knows how to win via hard work.

As the season-long identity crisis continues to the tune of a 6-22 record for the New Orleans Pelicans, more questions emerge from fans about how this team can create a future that’ll foster a winning culture.

Former NBA great and star of the film Uncut Gems Kevin Garnett is certainly a proven winner and may be open to a job in the offseason.

With the New Orleans Pelicans traveling to face the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight and the release of the film, my interest was provoked and it seemed worth visiting the candidacy of Garnett as the future voice of this team’s coaching department.

Garnett’s credentials are incredible as a player and as a leader. His accolades include the 2004 NBA MVP award, 2008 Defensive Player of the Year award, 15 All-Star Game appearances, 9 All-NBA listings, 12 All-NBA Defensive team listings, 4 rebounding titles, and the all-important 2008 Larry O’Brien Trophy with the champion Boston Celtics.

Over his career, Garnett averaged 17.8 points, 10 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and shot 49.7% from the floor in an effort that will eventually make him a Hall of Fame inductee.

In 2016, it was revealed by Yahoo Sports that Garnett had a pair of standing coaching offers available on the day he decided to call his 21-year professional basketball career quits.

The offers were from members of the coaching staff during his days with the Boston Celtics, as Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers and then-coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tyronn Lue, were the ones to reach out. Both have been head coaches for NBA Finals-winning teams.

He did spend some time on the Timberwolves bench in a limited role as a minutes-reduced veteran at the tail end of his playing career, but nothing was ever reached a high level of formality.

While Garnett has ultimately never accepted an opportunity to join a coaching staff, the 43-year-old future Hall of Fame player would have a lot of value as a voice in a young locker room.

Kevin Garnett brings the edge the New Orleans Pelicans so desperately lack this season.

There’s a benefit in hiring Garnett in that he’ll be able to grow alongside a brand-new, young roster that is closer to a glob of clay than pottery fresh from the kiln. His voice will be the one that’ll be pushing this team, physically and mentally, to be as great as possible.

Clearly, the New Orleans Pelicans need a bigger voice in their locker room, as Garnett has been noted for his great strength as a teammate, including being Zach LaVine‘s “veteran” during the current star’s first year in the league as a member of the Timberwolves.

"“Practice is at 11, I’m there at like 8:30… Kevin Garnett is in a full sweat, when I tell you, doing sprints up and down the floor, talking to himself, ‘Yeah KG! We’re ready to go KG! We’re back home, let’s do it, let’s do it!’ – I’m just sitting here like wow,” LaVine said of Garnett to Zach Lowe on The Lowe Post."

Acting in a lofty leadership role for this Pelicans team would be gigantic. With so many young players oozing with talent and seemingly a pretty coachable bunch for the right person, Garnett could offer a lot as a first-time coach in New Orleans.

Interestingly, Garnett is from South Carolina, just like the team’s rising rookie star in Zion Williamson. With Brandon Ingram native to North Carolina and on record noting his comfort in Southern hospitality, Garnett might be able to quickly relate to this team’s core and develop a team that resonates with the culture in Louisiana.

Even if Garnett is an addition to Alvin Gentry’s coaching staff, this team will gain a lot from having that voice around a timid team.

Garnett is famous for his insane work ethic, which he’s since translated into teaching with young players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaren Jackson Jr., helping them find an edge in their training regimen. Teaching those habits not only to Zion and Ingram, but guys like Jaxson Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, or even Nicolò Melli will help grow this team’s young players.

Not to mention, Garnett was one of the best defensive players in the league over his 21-year career. This New Orleans Pelicans team ranks 29th in defensive rating and seems to have no idea how to defend the paint or close out in the clutch.

Winning is the most important part of sports and as it stands, the Pelicans aren’t doing a whole lot of that, as their last win came before Thanksgiving. Garnett certainly did a lot of that as a member of the professional basketball association.

While the job still belongs to Alvin Gentry, the New New Orleans Pelicans could soon find themselves trying to find a coach who can help this team win more games. Right now, it doesn’t seem like this team is finding their rhythm with the active coaching core.