Expert: Fabio Anderle - 3/3/2005

Question
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Followup To
Question -

Thanks for the reply and answers. But I think you missed one. Not long ago, Dennis Johnson coached the Los Angeles Clippers in an interim capacity. Does this qualify? Yup, you missed by an inch...Just a thought. Thanks again....

Mona
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Hi Fabio,

Who were former Celtics players that ended up coaching in the NBA after they retired? I asked because former Celtic Kevin Pritchard is set to coach the Blazers and I lost count on who's who on the all-time Celtics list. Thanks in advance, bye.

Mona
Answer -
Hi, Mona,

this is quite an articulate answer, because it apparently seems that former Celtics usually will find a way to ride a professional bench, sooner or later...
There is a small patrol of lucky men who got to play for the Celtics and later got to coach them: Bill Russell, Tom Heinsohn, Tom Sanders, Dave Cowens, K.C. Jones, Chris Ford and M.L. Carr. Other ex-Celtics players who coached or still coach in the NBA are: Paul Silas, Don Nelson, Carl Braun, Bill Sharman, Quinn Buckner, Don Chaney, Paul Westphal, Rick Carlisle, Danny Ainge, Ed Macauley, Andy Phillip, Larry Bird, Bob Cousy and, of course, the "new entry" Kevin McHale.
I think I got them all, but you never know, I could have missed one by one inch... ;)

Answer
Right, Mona,

Dennis Johnson started coaching the Los Angeles Clippers as an interim coach when he replaced Alvin Gentry on March 4, 2003, and went on coaching the Clippers for the whole 2003-2004 season too..... thank you a lot for the correction, Mona, I owe you a beer! ;)

Fabio