New Orleans Pelicans: 3 assistants Stan Van Gundy should consider hiring

New Orleans Pelicans: Stan Van Gundy should consider Malik Allen as an assistant coach

Malik Allen

Malik Allen is a former NBA player who has also worked for Stan Van Gundy in the past.

He was under Van Gundy for four years in Detroit, where one of his duties was helping big man Andre Drummond add some nuance to his game.

Malik Allen was undrafted but still able to have a nice NBA career that included stints with eight different teams. These types of journeymen players often make the best coaches, as they had to use smarts and effort to stay in the league and played with an array of great players.

Allen played with both Jason Kidd and Tyronn Lue, two guys who ended up being head coaches themselves, so he was around a lot of smart and dynamic players in his career.

After being on Stan Van Gundy’s staff in Detroit, Allen went on to coach one year with Minnesota before joining the Miami Heat staff as an assistant.

So Allen has worked under Stan Van Gundy, Tom Thibodeau and Erik Spoelstra, a pretty good trio of coaches, especially when it comes to teaching defense.

Allen has worked for some of the best defensive minds in the game, and if Stan Van Gundy hired him again, that would be his focus.

Allen would be good for Zion Williamson, who needs to get better defensively and improve his jump shot, two things Allen has had some success with in the past.

Allen is also young, can relate to the players and has been well-liked and respected everywhere he’s been. It would be smart for SVG to bring in some former players who can form relationships with the young guys.