BAMAPHIN 22
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During Avery Johnson's playing days, many executives and players thought the point guard would make a great NBA coach. Still, he had to be convinced it was time to make that transition.
Now, after his first full season leading the Dallas Mavericks, Johnson was honored Tuesday as the NBA's coach of the year.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban remembers talking to Johnson nearly two years ago about retiring as a player and becoming the top assistant - and eventual successor - to Don Nelson.
Cuban told Johnson, "I know you can still play, but we want to start you on the path to being a Hall of Fame coach." Johnson's response then: "I don't know, I don't know."
There's no more doubt. Johnson is a coaching natural.
Johnson led the Mavericks to 60 victories this season, matching the team record. That mark was first set three years ago, when Johnson was still playing for Dallas.
"I think I'm gifted to do what I'm doing, that this is what I'm here for," Johnson said. "I felt like a coach when I was a player. ... In a lot of ways, I know some things are still new to me. But in other ways, I just feel like I've been doing this a lot of time, and a lot of it just comes naturally."
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5538714
Now, after his first full season leading the Dallas Mavericks, Johnson was honored Tuesday as the NBA's coach of the year.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban remembers talking to Johnson nearly two years ago about retiring as a player and becoming the top assistant - and eventual successor - to Don Nelson.
Cuban told Johnson, "I know you can still play, but we want to start you on the path to being a Hall of Fame coach." Johnson's response then: "I don't know, I don't know."
There's no more doubt. Johnson is a coaching natural.
Johnson led the Mavericks to 60 victories this season, matching the team record. That mark was first set three years ago, when Johnson was still playing for Dallas.
"I think I'm gifted to do what I'm doing, that this is what I'm here for," Johnson said. "I felt like a coach when I was a player. ... In a lot of ways, I know some things are still new to me. But in other ways, I just feel like I've been doing this a lot of time, and a lot of it just comes naturally."
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5538714
