Jannero Pargo was only an NBA player contemplating becoming an NBA player for the first eight seasons of his career. During that time, he played for five different teams and established himself as a reliable backup point guard in the league. Pargo ended up at Charlotte during his NBA career’s last phase. He played there for head coaches Mike Dunlap and Steve Clifford, and it was at this time that he made the decision that he wanted to become a coach in the future. Pargo, who is currently an assistant for the Indiana Pacers, recalled the moment he realised he wanted to be a coach.
“Very late in my career,” “I would say my last two years, I was pretty much a player-coach in Charlotte. I knew I had aspirations of becoming a coach, and some day a head coach.”
After finishing his playing career, Pargo joined the Windy City Bulls of the G League as an assistant, and two years later, he made it to the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers. Terry Stotts was his boss at the time, and he was an assistant. Stotts was fired by Portland in the summer of 2021, and Pargo joined the Pacers’ coaching staff under Rick Carlisle a few months later.
The fact that Pargo is friendly with Pacers players is evident simply from observation. He can still play a little bit at the age of 43, and he frequently engages in one-on-one combat with men. He is an excellent coach for player development, and his playing days help him connect with the roster. About Pargo, Pacers rookie Jarace Walker stated “He’s awesome. Definitely instills confidence in his players,” “He definitely wants us to play hard and defend.”
Pacers reacting to Pargo and his mentorship
Another rookie for the Pacers, Ben Sheppard, noted that Pargo is enjoyable to play for and that he is a strong friend and mentor. These characteristics are essential for NBA coaches in the modern day. It’s not surprising that Indiana gave Pargo the chance to lead the Pacers Summer League club given his development and ascent as a coach in the league. Early in June, he was approached about the opportunity, and although though nothing was set in stone at the moment, he still needed to get ready. That called for concentration and calls with his mentors. To obtain some guidance, he spoke with Stotts, the boss he had for two years.
the team was hype to celebrate Jannero Pargo's first win as our Summer League Head Coach. 🚿#PacersSummer pic.twitter.com/iarbJ9NWSA
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) July 9, 2023
His club had a 2-0 record when certain important starters decided to miss the final three games. Nevertheless, Pargo’s first five games as a head coach had a lot going for them. This year, Pargo will begin his third season as an assistant with the Pacers, but he has improved as a coach since the offseason began. He gained useful experience in Las Vegas, and he is now better prepared to handle additional coaching duties in the future.