Future NBA Head Coaches Jrue Holiday Conley Crawford

Merlin sees teams tilting toward former players for head-coaching jobs. Playing experience helps but stardom can be a liability. Ideal hires are long-career role players, often point guards who studied under many coaches. The piece highlights Jamal Crawford (veteran bench scorer turned broadcaster), Jrue Holiday (two-time champion, defense-first floor general), Garrett Temple (trusted journeyman leader), Mike Conley (steady vet with deep playoff work), and Chris Quinn (undrafted guard turned top Heat assistant). Merlin notes broadcasting, journeyman resumes, and point-guard savvy keep popping up as repeat themes. Each candidate brings a clear edge and a clear flaw: Crawford’s patchy locker-room history, Holiday’s high standards, Temple’s limited playoff minutes, Conley’s calm that can read as passive, Quinn’s Heat-trained polish. Expect front offices to keep betting on patient teachers who know how to manage role players.