If this extended coaching look for Knicks president Leon Rose and William Wesley have embarked on continue to potential customers to Tom Thibodeau currently being employed, the relaxation of the interviews will not have been a squander of Zoom time.

At least Rose and Wesley, who have never labored for an NBA crew, obtained a crash study course in “The Spurs Way.”

Rose named the ongoing lookup that could stop subsequent 7 days “an training.”

Part of Rose’s approach of interviewing 11 candidates — which include five without having head-coaching practical experience — is to listen to philosophies of other companies, according to an NBA source.

Two of all those with no head coaching practical experience are assistants Ime Udoka and Will Hardy — equally of whom have San Antonio’s impeccable tradition ingrained in them.

To a lesser extent, so does Mike Miller, the Knicks interim coach who spent two seasons as an Austin Spurs assistant in the G-League and was Rose’s to start with interview.

Udoka played a few seasons with the Spurs as a teammate of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Udoka went on to mentor them as Gregg Popovich’s assistant for 7 seasons and also aided cultivate Kawhi Leonard and Danny Inexperienced. Udoka, 42, joined the Sixers prior to this time.

“He assimilated with the Pop philosophy,’’ 1 NBA govt who is close to Udoka advised The Put up. “Udoka is a individual quite pushed, meticulous, really hard on himself. He’s a perfectionist.”

Udoka, who oversees the Sixers’ protection, joined a further Spurs alum in Brett Brown in Philly.

Torrel Harris, the agent for and father of Sixers forward Tobias Harris, has been most amazed with Udoka, a previous Knick. If the Bulls’ work formally opens, Udoka is anticipated to be a frontrunner, specifically now that previous Sixers government Marc Eversley just joined Chicago.

“He’s excellent dude, excellent coach,’’ Harris told The Article. “He would be a fantastic coach for the Knicks. All players really like him. He will get the players regard. The Knicks need to absolutely retain the services of him.’’

So why did Udoka go away Popovich’s side? Some insiders deduce Udoka realized he was not Popovich’s successor — that Becky Hammon, Tim Duncan or even Hardy held the inside track. Popovich is 71 a long time outdated.

“A distinctive problem is generally remarkable to me,’’ Udoka explained in advance of the year. “When you’ve finished some thing — you know I used 7 years as a mentor [in San Antonio]. Seeing new factors, being with new gamers and bouncing concepts off of distinctive coaches and new philosophies is a way to increase and see points from a diverse standpoint.”

Hardy, 31, still is in position in San Antonio right after getting with the group for 10 decades, setting up as a 21-calendar year-previous intern. He was promoted to the entrance of the bench only this period but has been an assistant for four several years soon after serving as online video coordinator.

“It’s not just Pop and [GM] R.C. [Buford], who have been amazing, but I have experienced coaches I have worked for and worked with [and] the record is ridiculous,’’ Hardy said in an job interview with The Athletic prior to the year. “It’s Mike Budenholzer. It’s Brett Brown, Jacque Vaughn, Don Newman, Chip [Engelland] and Chad [Forcier]. Ime [Udoka] and Ettore Messina, James Borrego, Becky [Hammon], Jim Boylen. I indicate, there are like 6 head coaches in there.”

So what is Rose and Wesley understanding about the Spurs via these interviews?

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1 NBA mentor explained some of it is very simple but difficult to copy.

“The Spurs Way is the sum getting bigger than the individual components,’’ the mentor reported. “It was in no way about Tim Duncan or Tony or Manu. Pop was authorized to coach them devoid of individual agenda due to the fact the players purchased into a system.’’

A person agent stated “The Spurs Way’’ is not bogus, while their astounding 22-year playoff streak is envisioned to crash amid the Orlando restart as they enter with a 27-36 report.

“It exists,’’ the agent mentioned. “When it comes to player advancement, they’ve carried out incredible. The lifestyle is just good there. When it comes to putting a youthful player in the NBA, as an agent, you’re focusing on two franchises — San Antonio and Miami.”

1 coaching resource extra, “The process is real. If a Corridor of Famer buys in, great points come about.Tim was all about winning, a la Bill Russell. The finest systems and greatest coaches can get more wins out of the very same group of gamers than a strategically suspect program or inferior coach.”

Spurs course is adjourned.

Mike Woodson, who is staying seemed at a lot more so to add as major assistant, had his second interview Friday. The Post documented David Fizdale desired Woodson on his staff in 2018 but management considered it to be a undesirable plan.