The Charlotte Hornets are reportedly interested in bringing in the head coach of Spain’s National Team as an assistant.
According to La Opinion de Malaga, the Charlotte Hornets have offered Sergio Scariolo to be James Borrego’s assistant coach. The current Spanish National team head coach is considering making the move to the NBA. Up to this point, he has spent his entire coaching career overseas in Europe.
The article also states that the Toronto Raptors, who are still searching for a new head coach since firing Dwayne Casey, are “very interested” in Scariolo. It’s unclear if Toronto is looking to bring him in as their head coach or as an assistant.
Sergio has been targeting the NBA for about three years now and was looking to become an assistant coach after the 2016 Olympics. (HoopsHype.com) He has received an NBA offer in the past but didn’t accept it. The time may be now for him to make the move stateside with two teams interested.
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The 57-year old started his coaching career in 1989 and has had two separate stints as the head coach of the Spanish National Team. He is their current coach and was previously from 2009-12. During his time with Spain, he’s won three gold medals in EuroBasket, one bronze medal in EuroBasket, a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. the
At the club level, he’s coached in Italy, Spain and Russia with the most notable team being Real Madrid. Sergio is a two-time Spanish League champion, a two-time Spanish Cup winner, the AEEB Coach of the Year in 2000, a one-time Italian League champion and the Italian Coach of the Year in 1994.
Scariolo would be the fourth addition to James Borrego’s staff. The new Hornets’ head coach has already added Jay Triano, Jay Hernandez and Ronald Nored as assistants. Triano was brought on to be Borrego’s top assistant.
Sergio’s track record speaks for itself and it’s a surprise that he hasn’t coached in the NBA yet. He has a lot of coaching experience and could be a key figure in helping bring European players to Charlotte.
It’s worth noting that Scariolo has been Willy Hernangomez‘s coach at the National Team level as the Hornets’ big man has played with Spain’s senior team since 2015.
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I think that Sergio would be a good hire for Charlotte and make a great addition to James Borrego’s already strong coaching staff. We’ll have to wait and see if Scariolo accepts the Hornets’ offer.