Who Should Be The Next Team USA Men’s Basketball Coach?

Obviously Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski holds the reigns as the head coach of Team USA, but at the age of 68 at some point he will have to call it quits.

Coach K said that he would coach through 2016, and I can see that being his last season as Team USA’s coach.

Krzyzewski has coached the team since 2005, and helped lead Team U.S.A to a gold medal at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics also at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

The big question is who will be his replacement once he steps down?

Realistically you could make a case for quite a few coaches now with how talented basketball minds in the league, but here’s the top 5.

5. Gregg Popovich
The Spurs 5 time NBA champion head coach undoubtedly has the resume and respect around the league to even make the case to become Team U.S.A’s next head coach, but at the age of 66 father time might be against him. Also Popovich reportedly considered retirement after his two heart procedures last season.

Popovich has the respect of every NBA player in the league, but it would be fantastic to watch him coach the best of the best in the league.

Popovich coaching Team U.S.A would be awesome to see, but the likelihood of that happening would be in comparison to winning the lottery thanks to father time.

4. Rick Carlisle
Rick Carlisle is a personal favorite because of the teams that he’s been given that he still turns into pretty successful ball clubs.

Carlisle can make the most of the talent provided, and with 619 career wins he’s proven that he can do it all after winning the 2010-2011 NBA championship against a talented Miami Heat roster.

I can see Carlisle making the jump to Team USA, but Bryan Colangelo could look elsewhere.

3. Brad Stevens
One of the great young minds in the NBA today even if his record is lack luster it does not do Brad Stevens justice.

Stevens helped lead a Boston Celtics team that has some talent, but not the kind of talent you’d expect to go into the playoffs especially after trading Rajon Rondo away.

His record in his two years of head coaching in the NBA 65-99, but the first season with Boston was a scrap year that even Doc Rivers didn’t want to touch.

The Celtics are building up the young nucleus they have and the success he’s had in the college ranks seems to have transferred over nicely.

He may not be the biggest candidate now, but I can see Stevens being an assistant coach for Team USA and possibly becoming the head coach of the mens basketball team in the olympics one day.

2. Steve Kerr
Coming off a NBA championship and NBA Coach of the year award, and tons of praise for the job he’s done in his first year in Golden State which the team chemistry seems nearly flawless at the moment.

Kerr has proven to manage the egos of stars on his roster not saying the Warriors have any pre-madonnas, but a young roster that was tied to a head coach in Mark Jackson who was fired due to the disagreements with ownership.

Steve Kerr convinced the Golden State Warriors roster with a healthy amount of veterans and young players to give him a shot, which clearly worked in their favor.

Once Kerr took over as head coach and there was no going back, and he’s played with a player in Michael Jordan who was apart of the infamous Dream Team.

Steve Kerr’s proven that he can handle coaching in the NBA, and I can see Kerr giving Team U.S.A a shot.

1. Doc Rivers

As a player and a head coach Doc Rivers has been successful and very well-respected around the league maybe the only person that has disrespected him publicly is Draymond Green.

Rivers has 700 career wins which is 3rd most amongst NBA head coaches and he will certainly add to that total with a revamped Clippers roster.

Doc Rivers won his one and only NBA title back in 2008 with the Boston Celtics and he’s coached in the NBA all-star game twice.

The 2000 NBA coach of the year knows how to handle personalities while getting the best out of his players which is why Rivers has been so successful.

In a league where it’s tough to keep longevity with teams he has that under his belt coaching with the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, and now the Los Angeles Clippers where he looks like he’s there for the long haul.

If Bryan Colangelo goes with a veteran coach I think Rivers is the most likely candidate to take over for Mike Krzyzewski.

The respect level from some of the greatest NBA players in today’s game also helps his odds of landing the position later on.