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Alabama Basketball Season Preview: Head Coach Avery Johnson

By Thomas Jenkins

Feb 13, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Avery Johnson looks on against the Florida Gators during the first half at Stephen C. O
Feb 13, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Avery Johnson looks on against the Florida Gators during the first half at Stephen C. O /
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Alabama basketball head coach Avery Johnson begins his second season with the Crimson Tide this year. How will his sophomore year play out?

Most Alabama basketball fans were introduced to head coach Avery Johnson when he made his debut with the team last year. When the team overachieved and won 18 games, he solidified his reputation as a competent college basketball coach.

Johnson has taken a long road to get to this point in his career, going from player to NBA coach, to (finally) the University of Alabama. Now, in his second year, he is poised to make an even bigger splash.

In the 1998-99 season, Avery Johnson won the NBA Finals as a point guard for the San Antonio Spurs. Although he played very well in high school and college, it seems fair to consider this the high point of his career as a player.

However, the biggest challenge for Johnson was his ensuing career as a head coach, which started with the Dallas Mavericks in 2005. Here, he had several successful seasons, leading the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2006 and making multiple playoff appearances. Despite this success, Dallas eventually struggled in the playoffs and Johnson was fired in 2008.

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    • Johnson also coached the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets from 2010-2012. He struggled to establish consistent success though, and they parted ways after two years of losing seasons.

    This news may seem surprising. Alabama marketed Johnson as a high-level coach since his arrival in Tuscaloosa, but disappointing finishes at two prior NBA coaching positions seem to discount his skill level.

    Perhaps, more than anything, Johnson’s career to this point simply shows how difficult it is to coach an NBA team. Additionally, the end of his NBA tenure (so far) is definitely not evidence that Johnson is anything close to a poor coach.

    Last year’s Crimson Tide basketball team serves as proof of his coaching ability. This team  — based on talent alone — vastly overachieved. They even came close to an NCAA Tournament berth at various points throughout the season. Don’t forget his success in Dallas, either; taking a team to the NBA Finals is a remarkable accomplishment.

    Next: How Losing Eddie Jackson Hurts Alabama

    One thing is certain: Avery Johnson is solidifying himself as a high-quality college basketball coach. With a full year of experience, and a recruiting class of hand-picked players, Johnson looks to improve that this season.

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