Golden State Warriors: New Assistant Lindsey Hunter Hopes For Better Experience

Former veteran point guard Lindsey Hunter will take a seat next to Mark Jackson on the Golden State Warriors coaching staff, following a season as interim head coach of the Phoenix Suns.

Hunter experienced quite the season last year in Phoenix. After signing a deal to be an assistant to former head coach Alvin Gentry, he was designated as the interim head coach when Gentry was fired in January.

After the Warriors’ top assistant coach Mike Malone chose to sign as head coach with the Sacramento Kings, Golden State was out to look for a replacement that can bring mentoring to a team that is still young but already has championship potential.

With a highly talented team like Golden State, Lindsey Hunter is bound to have better experiences than in Phoenix. Photo Credit: Michael Dunlap, HoopsHabit.com

While it may not have been the greatest idea to put him as the head coach right away, Hunter should find Golden State to be a much better fit. He brings qualities that can be utilized on this team, since they’re looking to make a championship push next season.

When announced as the Suns interim head coach, he stated that he wanted the team to be more defensive-minded. While that didn’t work out so well in Phoenix, perhaps his values can be more appreciated on a team that can see how close they are to a title and would be more willing to take advice.

Hunter was known in his career as a solid defensive point guard that can provide a sense of leadership from the bench, be it in backup role or a little further down the bench. As great as Stephen Curry is and the potential that his backup Nemanja Nedovic may hold, they’re not known for their defensive abilities.

Unproven as a coach on any NBA level, Hunter does have experience in player development, first with the Chicago Bulls and then with Phoenix. After the issues that he got into with his team and expressing it to the media, Hunter may have exposed why he needs more experience as an assistant before he takes on any head coaching job again.

Nonetheless, none of the players in the Golden State backcourt are known for causing coaching or chemistry issues, and their identity on the team is much more established than the players in Phoenix. The Warriors, for now, looks like an ideal team for Hunter re-establish himself as a coach.

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