The Golden State Warriors are two wins away from their second title in three years. While head coach (and former three-time champion with the Bulls) Steve Kerr missed most of the playoffs due to health problems, assistant Mike Brown filled in as the Warriors’ temporary sideline boss. But Kerr is extremely grateful for a different assistant, one who never wanted the big head coaching job but has built a glowing reputation as one of the NBA’s best coaches – head or not – over several decades in the league.
I’m talking about Ron Adams. That name should ring a bell for Bulls fans.
Ugly Exit
Adams served as an assistant for the Bulls from 2003-08, and again from 2010-13. He returned because his lifelong friend and colleague Tom Thibodeau landed the head coaching job and insisted Adams join him in Chicago. Together, they led an overachieving Bulls team to several winning seasons and perennial playoff appearances. For large stretches, they did so with an absent or inconsistent centerpiece in Derrick Rose.
In 2013, however, Bulls GM Gar Forman unceremoniously fired Adams and gave little explanation for doing so to the media. It is widely believed that the firing came as a result of Adams speaking critically about certain personnel moves to people outside the organization. Usually a head coach picks their assistants, but this was a rare example of the front office wielding its powerful reach along the coach’s bench. Specifically, Forman didn’t like Adams’ candor about a questionable decision Forman made. That’s a petty, personal and ill-advised reason to fire an overqualified assistant coach.
Thibodeau was not happy about it and his displeasure was no secret. His boss firing Adams added more tension to an already-fracturing relationship between head coach and front office. Two years later, Forman gave Thibodeau the boot too. How have things gone for the Bulls since? Yeah, not so much.
Happy Place, Egg On Face
Things for Adams, meanwhile, are going wonderfully. He has a great working relationship with Kerr and their players in Golden State. He’s two wins away (and frankly, it looks inevitable) from collecting a second championship ring. He gets to coach some of the greatest players in the game while they’re in their prime and still improving. Among those players is utility-man-turned-star Draymond Green, whom Adams urged the Bulls to take in the 2012 draft. Instead, the Bulls chose Marquis Teague. Remember him?
If you don’t, I don’t blame you for blocking him from your memory. If you do, I’ll give you a second to get your gag reflex under control.
…We good? Okay, moving on.
Here’s why we’re talking about Adams blossoming with the Warriors while the Bulls languish in NBA irrelevance: Thibodeau lent some words to Sports Illustrated’s Rob Mahoney for his beautifully detailed column about Adams and his long-running success as an NBA assistant. Seriously, read it. It’s incredible.
Unfortunately, it’s also the freshest reminder of the idiocy of this Bulls front office. Fortunately, it makes both Forman and John Paxson look insanely stupid, which is all Bulls fans have these days.
A True Professional
Thibodeau, Kerr and many others explain why Adams is so good. All of Adams’ colleagues cite his unselfishness and positive nature as contributors to a healthy working and learning environment.
“The thing that I really respected and admired about him was he was never about himself. When Ron is on your staff, it’s gonna build great chemistry amongst the staff because he wants everyone to get ahead. He’s a mentor to a number of coaches in this league, particularly the young guys who are coming in, y’know? He wants what’s good for the game, what’s good for the profession. He just stands for all the right things.” – Tom Thibodeau
At the core of his coaching identity, though, are two invaluable skills: 1) Ron loves the artful work that goes into constructing dominant NBA defenses, and successfully relays the instruction for its execution to his players and fellow coaches. 2) He excels in player development, and knows how to get the best out of each one of his players.
Here’s Celtics coach Brad Stevens, who wisely brought Adams on board to serve as an assistant after the Bulls fired him:
“[Ron]’s a really good coach, I think everybody knows the defensive details and the X’s and O’s standpoint of it, but I think where he’s just as good is in player development and in helping guys find their best.” – Brad Stevens
Bulls fans saw firsthand just how talented Adams is coaching on the defensive end. Thibodeau got lots of the credit for the Bulls’ defensive dominance from 2010-2013, and deservedly so. But Adams was just as responsible and probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Thibs constantly refers to the defense as a collective unit, five guys moving on a string, etc. Not a bad analogy. But check out how beautifully Adams talks about defense:
“Defensively, obviously we’re all connected. What one person does, everyone else has to adjust to. When one person moves, in the best of worlds everyone moves. It doesn’t always happen. It’s what we strive for. I think defensively, through this, this aspect of connectedness, this concept of connectedness, it’s very altruistic. We do something for someone else that’s not glamorous. Offense is glamorous. Offense is—except to the purists—offense is notable, to the public. Defense is kind of what all of us have to do in life to not only live good lives, but to make other people’s lives better. I think it’s a giving thing.” – Ron Adams
Those Bulls teams of the early 2010s weren’t glamorous, but damn did they play great defense. Adams relayed that poetic importance of defense to the players in Chicago. Now, he’s doing it for the Warriors. With their high-powered offense, people tend to overlook just how good Golden State’s defense is. But it’s no coincidence that in three seasons with Adams, the Warriors have had the 1st, 3rd and 1st-ranked defense in opponent field goal percentage. Not just in the Western Conference, but the entire NBA.
Right now, Kevin Durant looks like the best defensive player in the Finals. Adams spent 2008-10 with Durant and the Thunder, and KD is thrilled to be working with him again. Here’s what he had to say about Adams at his introductory press conference with the Warriors last summer:
“Ron Adams is the only reason why I came [to golden state]. Simple as that.” – Kevin Durant
That’s probably some silly hyperbole by Durant, but the respect for Adams is genuine. Durant is playing the best defensive basketball of his career, and Adams is undoubtedly a big reason why.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Fred Hoiberg (whose defensive ineptitude as an NBA coach is laughable) had Adams on his staff to help him out on that side of the ball?
Player Development
Now, let’s go back to what Brad Stevens said about Adams’ ability to develop young players. Thibodeau also praised his friend and colleague for his skills as not just a coach, but a true teacher who gets the best out of his pupils.
“I think he gets a lot of enjoyment out of teaching and he’s great at it. I think he’s passionate about it. You look at the way he works, his discipline, how he cares about people … Part of it was, I think, his ability to see the possibilities in someone and to stretch ’em and push ’em beyond what they thought they could do. That was a big part of who he is. That was what I had a lot of respect for and I still do.” – Tom Thibodeau
Now, why is this so ironically frustrating (and face-palmingly hilarious)?
Think back to Forman and John Paxson’s press conference at the end of this season. What did they say was the biggest focus for this team right now? Player development. Specifically, getting more out of the young guys.
“We’re going to put a lot of resources and time into our player development this offseason and try to create a culture where they can grow and try to become the best players that they can.” – John Paxson
Gee, that sounds like a job for your great assistant coach Ron Ada-oh, wait. You let Forman fire him because he spoke truths about Forman doing dumb things. That’s a shame.
Paxson tried to use playing time as an excuse when talking about the lack of player development.
“I firmly believe and I think Gar does too that as a young player, the only way we can find out anything about them, they can find out about themselves, is to have consistency … Jimmy Butler played his first year about eight minutes a game. What he needed was opportunity, consistent opportunity … We need our young guys to get more consistent time out there on the floor, and that will happen.” – John Paxson
I’m sorry, but that’s a load of bullshit. Nikola Mirotic has had plenty of time to develop. Bobby Portis has had two seasons to develop. Jerian Grant got plenty of opportunities to develop this season. What growth have we seen from them?
…Bueller?
It’s a weak excuse coming from a guy who knows he made a mistake by letting his general manager pick his pal to be their next head coach. Paxson also criticized Hoiberg’s leadership skills in that press conference. Rather bluntly, in fact. But Paxson is right. Fred’s not the leader they need to develop their young players. I wonder which Paxson regrets more: letting Forman fire excellent assistant Ron Adams for personal reasons or letting him hire Fred Hoiberg. It’s a tough call, but both have had undeniably negative effects on the Bulls.
Adams admits it was mystifying and hurtful when the Bulls suddenly fired him. But I’m sure he’s over it at this point. He’s developing the young and talented roster in Golden State. The Warriors defense has become one of the best in the league, thanks to him. He’s working for an organization that’s about selflessness and winning championships. What’s not to love?
Adams is about to get his second ring, while Gar and Paxson are still hopelessly chasing each other’s tails. This karmic dog is biting them in the ass as we speak.
I hope it hurts.
