Kenny Smith is an outsider wanting in. The Detroit Pistons could change that.
Detroit needs a new head coach and reportedly has plans to interview the TNT NBA analyst
Tony Wolters Colorado Rockies Jersey , who has no prior coaching experience.
The former first-round draft pick out of the University of North Carolina played in the NBA for a decade, making appearances with six teams. He’s mainly known for his six-year stint in Houston, where the Rockets won championships in 1994 and `95. He hung up all his jerseys in 1997 and put on a suit for TV.
During his final season, Smith made a pit stop in Detroit. He played just nine games for the Pistons.
Smith would not be the first former player to go directly from broadcasting to coaching. Nor is basketball the only sport plucking people out of the booth and plopping them down on the bench; it actually hopped on the trend late compared to baseball.
Here’s some others who paved the path from the booth to the bench:
Aaron Boone (MLB)
The current Yankees manager spent seven years behind the microphone for ESPN, analyzing what he saw rather than dictating what he wanted. A desire to return to the field was fulfilled in 2017 when New York offered Boone a three-year contract, with a team option for 2021, and he returned to the pinstriped uniform.
During his 12-year professional career, Boone played 54 games for the Yankees in 2003, hitting an ALCS-clinching home run against Boston. He mainly spent his time with the Reds – seven seasons – and joined four other teams before announcing his retirement in 2010. That’s when he made the switch to the broadcast booth.
Right now, the Yankees (35-17) have the second-best record in the majors.
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Buck Martinez (MLB)
Boone actually went to Martinez for advice
Robert Griffin III Color Rush Jersey , because he made a similar move at the turn of the century: Player. Broadcaster. Manager. Of course, Martinez went back to broadcasting after being fired in his second season.
Martinez played for 17 years, finishing with the Blue Jays. He then became part of the club’s broadcast team. In 2001, Toronto made him its new manager.
Martinez returned to broadcasting with the Orioles. That lasted a couple of years until he took his mic back to the Blue Jays in 2010, where he remains. Martinez is in his eighth season as the team’s play-by-play announcer.
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Jerry Coleman (MLB)
Managing didn’t work out too well for Coleman, either. Coleman was in broadcasting for 51 years, giving a voice to baseball until his death in 2014. He took only one year off the job: 1980.
The Padres made Coleman the team’s team manager after eight years in San Diego’s broadcasting booth. He lasted a season, leading the Padres to a 73-89 record, then went right back to where he was most comfortable: behind the microphone. There, the former four-time World Series champion covered two World Series and 18 League Championship Series.
In 2005
Logan Morrison Minnesota Twins Jersey , Coleman was given the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s annual Ford C. Frick Award that recognizes broadcasters.
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Mark Jackson (NBA)
Enough baseball, back to basketball. Jackson dribbled his way through 17 years in the NBA before calling it quits in 2004. From there, he spent seven years working for ESPN until the Warriors called in 2011 with a job offer.
Jackson coached the Warriors for three seasons, leading Golden State to back-to-back playoff appearances, with young stars Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. But then he was fired.
Immediately after, ESPN brought Jackson back on its NBA announcing team. He has stayed there ever since and will call the 2018 NBA Finals, where his former team is defending its title.
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Steve Kerr (NBA)
Here’s a success story still in the making. Kerr replaced Jackson as Warriors head coach, winning the title in his first season.
But even Kerr isn’t a stranger to the booth. Kerr had no coaching experience prior to the Golden State gig. He did play, though. He’s one of 26 players in NBA history to claim five championship titles. Kerr had also worked as an NBA executive, serving as general manager of the Suns from 2007-10.
Since he was hired away from TNT in 2014
Authentic Olivier Rodrigue Jersey , Kerr has had the Warriors in the NBA Finals each season, and they are trying for their third title with him. The Pistons sure wouldn’t mind if Smith could replicate Kerr’s success.
The Latest on Game 1 of the Stanley Cup between the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights (all times local):
8:40 p.m.
The Washington Capitals have a high-flying, hard-hitting team and history working against them.
Tomas Nosek scored the tiebreaking goal midway through the third period and added an empty-net goal in the closing seconds to help the Vegas Golden Knights beat Washington 6-4 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Since the final went to a best-of-seven format in 1939, the winner of Game 1 has gone on to hoist the Cup the last six years and 61 of the last 78 times.
Boston is the last team to bounce back from losing Game 1 to win an NHL title.
The Bruins, in fact, opened the 2011 Final with two losses against the Vancouver Canucks before rallying and winning in seven games.
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8:10 p.m.
The Vegas Golden Knights took another step in their unlikely quest to win the Stanley Cup, beating the Washington Capitals 6-4 in a Game 1 thriller.
Fourth-line forward Tomas Nosek scored a go-ahead goal midway through the third period and had an empty-net goal with 2.7 seconds left.
Marc-Andre Fleury made 24 saves for the Golden Knights. Braden Holtby made 28 saves for the Capitals, who are 0-5 in franchise history in the Stanley Cup Final.
Vegas will host Game 2 on Wednesday night.
Shortly before the empty-net goal, Lars Eller of the Capitals had the puck go off the end of his stick blade with a wide-open net in front of him and a chance to tie the game.
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7:55 p.m.
The Vegas Golden Knights are showing how deep and talented they are in the Stanley Cup Final.
Tomas Nosek scored a go-ahead goal midway through the third period to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 5-4 lead over the Washington Capitals in a Game 1 thriller.
Nosek’s one-timer from the right side was set up by Shea Theodore’s cross-ice pass. Ryan Reaves, the third player on Vegas’ fourth line
Justin Jones Color Rush Jersey , had tied the game early in the third.
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7:50 p.m.
Jonathan Marchessault, Vegas’ leading scorer in the playoffs, walked off the ice and toward the Golden Knights’ dressing room after taking an open-ice check.
Washington’s Tom Wilson landed a blind-sided hit on Marchessault well after he got rid of the puck near center ice.
Wilson was later called for interference against Marchessault after the officials gathered to discuss what happened. David Perron, who had come off Vegas’ bench, was penalized for cross-checking Alex Ovechkin during the same stoppage of play 5:53 into the third period.
Marchessault later returned to the ice.
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7:35 p.m.
Vegas and Washington are putting on a show in the Stanley Cup Final opener.
Tom Wilson put the Capitals ahead early in the third period and Ryan Reaves evened the score at 4-all for the Golden Knights just 1:31 later, setting up a fantastic finish in Game 1.
Wilson finished off a sequence in which he and his teammates, including Alex Ovechkin, finally found some time and space with the puck against the speedy, swarming Golden Knights.
That quieted the Vegas crowd, but not for long. Reaves scored the game-tying goal by lifting a loose puck over Braden Holtby.
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7:10 p.m.
It’s all tied up after the first two periods in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Vegas Golden Knights killed their first penalty with a little help from the post behind Marc-Andre Fleury as John Carlson drew iron on a shot late in the second period. Moments later
Antonio Callaway Color Rush Jersey , Fleury gave the post to his right a friendly tap with his right glove to give thanks after his team was penalized for having too many men on the ice.
The Golden Knights and Capitals head into the third period tied 3-3 after an entertaining opening to a series between two teams seeking their first NHL championship.
Fleury had stopped 15 shots through two periods and Braden Holtby had stopped 22 for the Capitals.
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6:45 p.m.
One of the hottest shows on the Strip isn’t showing signs of slowing down.
Reilly Smith put the Vegas Golden Knights ahead early in the second period and John Carlson pulled the Washington Capitals into a 3-3 tie as Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final reached the halfway point.
Just like the opening period, Vegas was able to generate more offense. The Golden Knights were outshooting the Capitals 10-5 midway through the second and 21-15 overall.
Both teams had some trouble keeping the puck settled at times. Crews were working on the ice during stoppages in play, adding water and shoveling shavings away.
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6:10 p.m.
The Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals are tied 2-2 after a wild first period in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Brett Connolly and Nicklas Backstrom scored 42 seconds apart to put the Capitals ahead and William Karlsson answered with a goal late in the period.
Both teams took advantage of having players with soft hands, allowing them to redirect rolling and wobbling pucks into the net.
Washington’s Braden Holtby withstood a flurry of shots early in the period and finished the opening 20 minutes with nine saves. Marc-Andre Fleury didn’t have to stop a shot for more than five minutes before Washington woke up.
Colin Miller fired up the home crowd by scoring 7:15 into the game on a power play, slapping a shot past Holtby, who appeared to be screened. Washington roared back with two goals.
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5:40 p.m.
The Vegas Golden Knights have jumped out to a 1-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the opening game of the Stanley Cup Final against Washington.
Colin Miller scored 7:.