4 First-Time Head Coaches Lakers Should Consider Hiring
By Cem Yolbulan
2. David Adelman, Denver Nuggets
Adelman has been the lead assistant coach to Michael Malone in Denver. The son of former NBA coach Rick Adelman, David is regularly mentioned as one of the best assistants in the league.
Having started his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves as a player development assistant, Adelman moved on to the Orlando Magic, and then to the Denver Nuggets. He has been with Denver since 2017, playing an important role in turning the Nuggets into an NBA champion and a consistent title contender.
Michael Malone is one of the best head coaches in the league. He is a player-centric coach who seems to have a positive relationship with his stars, giving them independence. If Adelman has a similar approach to coaching, he could be an excellent fit with James and Davis.
Moreover, Adelman has been on the sidelines for the past two seasons, helping the Nuggets dismantle the Lakers in the playoffs. He is very familiar with the roster and its strengths and weaknesses.
Considering that the Nuggets have been the team to beat in the NBA for the past two seasons, poaching their star assistant makes plenty of sense for Los Angeles.
Whether Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka take the risk of going with such an unknown name is another question.