Toronto Raptors former assistant coach Jesse Mermuys embraces opportunity to be head coach of D-League affiliate
BURNABY, B.C. — As the Toronto Raptors’ second day of training cap wrapped up, a free-throw shooting contest broke out on one of the side baskets. Competing: swingman Terrence Ross and assistant coaches Nick Nurse and Jesse Mermuys. In Mermuys’ case, that should be former assistant.
However, Mermuys already had that on his resumé, having served on benches in Houston, Denver and Toronto. He knew what he was missing.
“To get a head coaching job in the NBA, especially if you’re a non-former player in the NBA, I’m sure people could put the odds on that as one in a million or whatever,” the 35-year-old Mermuys said. “It’s a challenge. It’s a big-time challenge. To me, if that’s your goal and your dream, to make it happen you’ve got to do everything you possibly can. That’s getting head coaching experience. What better place to do it than in this organization, where they support it, it’s valued? I couldn’t pass that opportunity up.”
It was a mutual decision, according to Raptors president and general manager Masai Ujiri. Mermuys has been the Raptors’ summer league head coach the last two years, and has spent lots of time focusing on the Raptors’ younger players — Ross, Bruno Caboclo and Lucas Nogueira. He will be coaching the latter two often in Mississauga this year, as well as players such as first-round pick Delon Wright, second-round pick Norman Powell and perhaps even Anthony Bennett. There will also be a host of players who do not have contracts with the Raptors who will rotate in and out of Mississauga.
Mermuys’ transformation will be fascinating, thanks to his personality. Mermuys is comically upbeat — the kind of guy who says “110 per cent” when expressing certainty. It is hard to think of many NBA head coaches, past or present, who are so prone to smiling. Perhaps Indiana’s Frank Vogel would qualify.
“He’s got to be who he is,” Casey said. “That’s one of the things that makes him a good coach, his personality, his demeanour, his approach to the game. My suggestion to him is don’t change. If you try to change then you come across as being someone who you’re not.”
“I believe … as you get experience, you’re able to develop your personality as a head coach,” Mermuys said. “That’s why they created the D-League. It’s for everybody: the players, No. 1, but front office and coaches.”
Mermuys will emphasize the Raptors’ playbook on both ends of the floor — that is half of the reason for having your own D-League affiliate, after all — but said he has some ideas he is anxious to try. So long as they do not interfere with the Raptors’ overall philosophy, he should have some freedom. Ujiri said the Raptors’ intend to run their affiliate different than many (although he was not spilling on the specifics), so Mermuys should be allowed to experiment to an extent. For Mermuys, a lot is about to change.
As for that free-throw contest: Who won?
“T-Ross,” Mermuys said.
Whether you are an assistant or a head coach, that’s the right answer. Always pump the tires of your talent.
