The Golden State Warriors were supposed to lose two assistant coaches to head coaching positions.
That was until Kenny Atkinson reneged on accepting the Charlotte Hornets job, amid reports that he had trouble getting ownership to approve salaries for his desired assistants, and that he and his family love living in the Bay.
But Mike Brown departed for Sacramento, leaving a substantial hole, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. The team also lost Willie Green the season before last, as he took over as head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans.
To fill that void, the team will promote from within, tapping assistant coach Jama Mahlalela to take over Brown’s role. Atkinson will get a bump, too, as “lead assistant.”
Mahlalela came to Golden State after spending eight years with the Toronto Raptors as an assistant, but spent time with them and working international programs for the NBA before that. He spent three seasons as the head coach of the Raptors’ G-League affiliate, Raptors 905, from 2018-20.
Since joining Golden State, he has run the team’s player development program, and has been working with the Warriors’ young Summer League group this offseason.