DALLAS (AP) -The Mavericks hired former NBA head coach Paul Westphal on Thursday to be an assistant under Avery Johnson.
Westphal, out of the league since being fired as Seattle’s coach 15 games into the 2000-01 season, went 267-159 with Phoenix (1992-95) and Seattle (1998-2000).
“We are thrilled to add Paul Westphal to our basketball family. As one of the greatest offensive coaching minds in the NBA, Paul brings a wealth of experience as a coach and as a former player,” Johnson said. “He is a man of strong character and integrity and is excited about joining our staff in its path to win a championship.”
The Suns won at least 55 games in each of Westphal’s three seasons, and he led Phoenix to the NBA finals in his first full season in 1993 – a feat not matched by another first-year coach until Johnson did it with the Mavericks last year.
Johnson still has one more vacancy to fill on his staff. Longtime assistant Del Harris has moved into a consultant’s role for the Mavericks, and Sam Vincent was hired as Charlotte Bobcats head coach.
Westphal, who won an NBA title as a player with the Boston Celtics in 1974 and was a five-time All-Star, was Pepperdine’s head coach from 2001-06.
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