Perhaps that willingness to speak his mind stems from his NBA coaching roots, as he started as a video coordinator under Gregg Popovich.
Keefe had previously worked as a college assistant at South Florida (2000-01) and Bryant (’01-05), but his first NBA role came in San Antonio, where he even won a ring for the Spurs’ 2007 championship in his second season.
“That was a blessing to be able to start your career at a place to see how it really should be done,” Keefe said. “Obviously starting with R.C. (Buford) and Pop and those guys — but just how to do things the right way and being around all those great players. You just feel like a kid in the candy store trying to learn as much as you could. It was a fantastic environment for a young coach.”
From there, he joined the Thunder for the next seven years before spending the last two seasons with New York.
A 1996 Second Team All-Big West selection and
Perhaps that willingness to speak his mind stems...
Shaquille O'Neal Says He 'Only Played 30 Percent of My Real Game'
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Comments Shaquille O'Neal retired as one of the most dominant big men in NBA history. Yet he believes he could have reached even loftier heights.
In an interview with Shams Charania of The Vertical, the legendary center spoke about not utilizing his full skill set while imposing his will in the paint:
I only played 30 percent of my real game. I had a great career, but Ididn't get a chance to showcase what I can really do. That's because the double- and triple-teams were coming so quick, I had to dominate, dominate, dominate inside. I had the ability to step out, go around defenders, dribble by people, but I never got to show that.