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Should the Warriors hire Alvin Gentry as Steve Kerr’s assistant?

By Christian Evans

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 01: Head coach Alvin Gentry of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on March 01, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 01: Head coach Alvin Gentry of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on March 01, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Should the Golden State Warriors bring in yet another former head coach into their organization? This time, it’d be the Pelicans’ Alvin Gentry.

After his dismissal for the New Orleans Pelicans, Alvin Gentry is back on the job market. It could provide Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr an opportunity to get one of his more trusted lieutenants back at his side.

Gentry was with the Warriors as the Dubs claimed their first championship in 40 years and is widely regarded as the offensive mastermind that helped unlock the Warriors.

The former Pelicans head coach was immediately tasked with overhauling an offense that underwhelmed in the 2013-14 season. The result was an exhilarating brand of offense, Steph Curry’s first MVP, and the Dubs fourth NBA title.

Running Steve Kerr’s unique blend of Phil Jackson’s “triangle” offense, Gregg Popovich’s “Pace and Space” offense and Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo style of play in one offense transformed the Warriors. The numbers spoke for themselves in 2014-15.

Golden State ranked No. 1 in point differential, becoming just the eighth team in history to finish with a +10 or better.

They ranked No. 2 in offensive efficiency, No. 1 in defensive efficiency, No. 1 in pace, No. 1 in assists, No. 1 in field goal percentage, three-point percentage, effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage, No. 1 in opponent field goal percentage and No. 1 in opponent effective field goal percentage.

To add to that Kerr’s friendship with Gentry is well documented. The two first met in the year 2000 when Kerr was playing under Popovich in San Antonio where Gentry was briefly an assistant.

When Kerr was the general manager of the Phoenix Suns, Gentry was an assistant with Phoenix for two seasons and later spent 18 months as the head coach of the Suns.

In May 2014 when Kerr agreed to become Warriors head coach his first call was to ask Gentry whether he would be willing to be his No.2. The former Phoenix GM had a clear idea of how he wanted his offense to look and entrusted Gentry to execute it.

That shows the level of confidence and faith Kerr has in the former Pelicans HC.

Next. Top 30 Golden State Warriors players in franchise history. dark

If the 65-year-old fails to land another head coaching gig, a reunion with the Warriors doesn’t feel too far fetched.

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