Life in the D-League is a little different than what Jerry Stackhouse has been used to for most of his adult life. But the former high-flying guard, who now calls the NBA’s Development League home, says he’s perfectly fine shacking up at a Holiday Inn Express instead of the Ritz Carlton.
“The Ritz Carlton, where you get 24 hours room service, yeah, that’s a perk that I take advantage of,” says Stackhouse. “But for real, anybody that knows me knows I’ll come over your house and roll up on your couch. Just give me a blanket and a pillow.”
Stackhouse, who spent 18 years in the NBA with eight teams, retired after the 2013 season and quickly set his sights on becoming a coach (or possibly a front office executive). His journey has taken him from the sidelines as a Raptors assistant to the NBA's minor league. Stackhouse was named Toronto 905’s coach in September, the Raptors’ D-League affiliate, and as such the North Carolina product wears a lot of hats, including dealing with personnel decisions.
We caught up with Stackhouse while he was on the road to discuss what it’s like transitioning from the NBA to the D-League, his new responsibilities, his dream job, why D-Leaguers should get more money, and when his “homie” Drake is going to make an appearance at one of Toronto 905’s games.
(This interview has been edited and condenses for clarity.)
So what’s life like in the D-League because it’s got to be comedown from life in the NBA.
I travel a lot in the summer anyway, man. I’ll stay at the Ritz when I’m popping into Charlotte for a night. But I’m used to the Holiday Inn Express in some places that I may stop through. Or when I go home and we get extra rooms in Kinsto (North Carolina) where I’m from—the biggest hotel is a Holiday Inn Express. It’s nothing shocking to me. The Ritz Carlton, where you get 24 hours room service, yeah, that’s a perk that I take advantage of. But for real, anybody that knows me knows I’ll come over your house and roll up on your couch. Just give me a blanket and a pillow.
I ain’t scared of nothing. We have a little segment of our shell defense where the coaches are on offense and I get to be Jerry Stackhouse again for a little bit.
How about traveling commercial instead of charter? What’s it like rolling through the airport with the team?
It’s cool. That’s all part of it. I get a ride from the guy driving the cart. He’s like, “Stackhouse, come on, let’s go.” So it has its perks. I mean, I like getting on the charter flight but you’re not bonding. Here you have to spend time with each other waiting and talking and building that social equity that you need to be able to challenge each other on the court. So that time spent together is valuable.
Is the goal to be a NBA head coach or a general manager?
That’s the goal.
But what do you identify with more?
I think I identify more with being a coach because it’s touching the court. That’s what I’ve done all my life. But learning the business side of it, learning to evaluate talent, doing your due diligence on people’s backgrounds and how they can fit into what you do is intriguing to me as well.
Who is your coaching mentor?
From a pro standpoint, Avery (Johnson). Offensively, I think Doug Collins is one of the smartest guys I played under. Rick Carlisle was right there. Coach (Dean) Smith, his philosophy how the game should be played, especially on the defensive end…
How would you describe your coaching philosophy?
To defend. You can run a lot of different things a lot of different ways and that’s what I’ve learned. I think from my standpoint, I like an offense with movement and sharing the ball and guys that are selfless. On defense, I really want us to be stingy. I know the things I didn’t like to see as on offensive player those are the things I try to incorporate defensively. Defensively is where we hang our hat. I’m a defensive coach first.
Is your dream job North Carolina?
That’s where I’m from. My family is still there. It would make sense. Every player that I’ve touched from grassroots basketball to now has gotten a piece of Coach Smith. My parents were the first teachers and then he was the next figure in my life that was significant. They’re all going to get the offensive emphasis of the day, the defensive emphasis of the day, and the thought of the day just like I got when I was at North Carolina as a freshman in 1993.
Should D-League players be paid more?
Yeah, I think they’re going to get paid more. It’s going to be great for the league overall. You’re going to have a lot of talent not going overseas because they had to support their families. More of that ultra talent pool will stay stateside.
Any guys on your roster we could see in the NBA soon?
We’ve got a guy 7’2”, Edy Tavares, who has all the tools. Shot blocker, rebounder, has good hands, can be pushed to be better defensively. He wouldn’t be perfect in every situation, but where there’s good player development he could grow. C.J. Leslie, Jarrod Uthoff—these are guys that came out highly touted but for whatever reason haven’t clicked as rookies. Some kids get it a little bit later.
Do the guys you coach remember your playing career?
Yeah, I still get out there now. I ain’t scared of nothing. We have a little segment of our shell defense where the coaches are on offense and I get to be Jerry Stackhouse again for a little bit. I work out with them.
So you’re still busting your guys on the court?
I can’t be stopped offensively. I don’t run quite as fast on the defensive end, but I never did that [Laughs].
And you’re the one preaching defense to your guys.
Right. Do as I say, not as I do. I got 17,000 points [Laughs].
What’s the most underrated thing about being in the D-League?
People underestimate the overall talent and the support that these small towns [provide]. We have some superfans. People are catching on. It’s a good brand of basketball. If you can’t afford an NBA ticket, you can go get a good brand of basketball for $17 or $20. I think that’s cool.
What’s it going to take to get Drake to a game?
Oh, he’s coming. I ain’t even worried about that. That’s my homie. I can’t say when, but I think that’s an easy one.
The Raptors have Drake Night. You guys should have one, too.
Who would it be? Justin Bieber? Maybe we’ll take The Weeknd. I like The Weeknd.
