Sacramento Kings: Grading the assistant coach hires
Roy Rana may not be very well-known in America, but he’s a highly regarded Canadian coach who might be the Kings’ best hire.
Having been the head coach for Ryerson University in Toronto since 2009, Roy Rana has plenty of experience handling the X’s and O’s at a high-level. He’s also been coaching the Under -18 and Under-19 Canadian National teams, leading the Under-19 to Gold in 2017. He also coached Summer League teams for the Utah Jazz (2014) and the San Antonio Spurs (2015).
While he’s been north of the border much of his career, his two years coaching Summer League and eight years coaching Team World at the prestigious Nike Hoop Summit have exposed Rana to American media and coaching circles.
USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt called Rana “one of the unsung leaders, at least unsung here in the U.S., of the Canadian basketball grassroots movement.” The Athletic’s Sam Vacenie called Rana “an awesome hire” and “a real sharp guy”.
His move to the NBA is a big loss for Canadian Hoops, but it’s not necessarily a surprise. Rana was in the running to coach the Canadian National Team at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China this summer, but Raptors head coach Nick Nurse was chosen instead, which may have prompted the move.
Having coached every Canadian player currently in the NBA, there’s little doubt he can cut it as a top coach in the NBA. Rana is a direct coach who gives players lots of good information and is known as a culture builder who can take teams to the next level.
He’s the type of assistant coach who could be lead to major improvement with the Sacramento Kings this season, but also me who’s so good he may not be there long. Time will tell, but this is a fantastic hire.
Next. Players the Kings can draft if they trade up. dark
Grade: A; he’s the crown jewel of this coaching search.