Team USA head coach Gregg Popovich is putting the final touches on the rest of his coaching staff and has decided to name Golden State Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr as his assistant on the team. This won’t be the first time they work together since Kerr played under Popovich in 2002–2003 NBA season at San Antonio Spurs.
USA Basketball confirmed the decision on Thursday revealing that Indiana Pacers head coach Nate McMillan and Villanova Wildcats head coach Jay Wright will also join in as assistants for 2019 World Cup in China and the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
It is believed that Steve Kerr is one of the frontrunners to take the head coaching job at Team USA after Gregg Popovich and that his time as an assistant will prepare him for the challenges of coaching on an international level. Kerr was part of the Team USA while he was playing at the University of Arizona, participating in 1986 FIBA World Championship and winning a gold medal.
“This is an incredible opportunity and one I’m extremely grateful for,” – said Kerr in a statement. “I had the good fortune to participate in our USA Basketball program as an amateur, and to have the chance to return to the world stage three decades later and work under Pop, one of my former coaches and a mentor, is a tremendous honor.“
Nate McMillan has a longtime history of working with USA Basketball, having been an assistant under coach Mike Krzyzewski from 2006 to 2012. Jay Wright, on the other side, previously served as a head coach of Team USA at 2005 World University Games and 2007 Pan Am Games.
