Santa Cruz Warriors’ Aaron Miles: Fatherhood first, basketball second
After playing a considerable role in the Golden State Warriors’ 2018 NBA title run, Santa Cruz Warriors head coach Aaron Miles continued to stave off sleep in order to attend his eldest son’s extracurricular activities.
Santa Cruz Warriors head coach Aaron Miles has barely slept since the Golden State Warriors won the 2018 NBA title. Miles was humbled to have been a part of the entire experience, serving as part of Steve Kerr‘s coaching staff throughout the postseason.
But it wasn’t the stress of coaching that was keeping him from a solid eight hours, nor was it the leftover adrenaline from watching the Dubs go back to back; rather, it was the everyday responsibilities of being a father that motivated him to power through his lack of sleep.
“After we get off the flight Saturday, my son had a basketball tournament up in Oakland, so I went straight off the plane to his game,” Miles said via a conference call last Monday.
“Then the next morning, I had to drive back to Santa Cruz at night, drove back up next morning cause he had another tournament game, then we had to drive back to Santa Cruz yesterday because he had an All-Star baseball game.”
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“So going from being part of NBA champions, back to my real job — most important job, I should say — my most important responsibility as a husband and a father. So it don’t stop.”
Alongside his wife Mikki, Miles looks after four boys: Aaron Jr., Adonis, Asaiah and Avion. Miles clarified that it was his eldest son to whom he was referring, and that his other boys’ baseball seasons had already come to an end.
Due to conflicts with school, Miles was only able to bring his boys to Game 6 vs. the Houston Rockets. Miles talked about the hardship of only being able to spend a couple hours at night with his boys before going off to work early in the morning before they woke up for school.
However, as encouraged by the team, Miles and his entire family were able to be a part of Golden State’s championship parade. Miles praised the organization for their family-oriented approach to everything, saying he learned a great deal about balancing family life as an NBA coach by watching Kerr with his family.
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“That’s why I talk about the culture that’s established and just the family atmosphere,” said Miles. “They want you and your family to be a part of things, so I’m thankful.”
“This family atmosphere here is second to none.”