You got to hand it to Juwan Howard. Unlike most of his peers that take short cuts to head coaching gigs by joining the broadcast booth, the former Michigan Wolverine and “Fab Five” member worked unofficially as a quasi-assistant coach while as a player for the Miami Heat. It ultimately led to him being promoted as an assistant (again, while still a player) and segueing into his retirement due to NBA rules prohibiting player-coach roles.
Since then, the one-time All-Star found himself coaching the Heat's Summer League team as well as a valuable assistant to coach Erik Spoelstra, specifically the team's big men, the last five seasons.
Now, the long wait may be paying off for Howard.
Another name on the Knicks head-coaching interview list, per league sources: Heat assistant Juwan Howard. They may meet as soon as this weekend.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) April 28, 2018
Miami have reportedly granted permission to the New York Knicks to invite Howard for an interview and things are looking up for what Coach Spo described as a potential head coach this coming season albeit not with the Heat (for obvious reasons).
The Knicks are one of a handful of teams with existing head coaching vacancies, having dismissed their coach Jeff Hornacek after the season concluded. They have been hard at work interviewing potential replacements since then, with a list that also includes ex-Heat assistant David Fizdale, the Boston Celtics' Jay Larrañaga (who served as the top assistant to Doc Rivers and then Brad Stevens), former Cleveland Cavaliers' head David Blatt, current coach of the G-League team Raptors 905 Jerry Stackhouse, to even college coaches like Villanova Wildcats' Jay Wright. The Atlanta Hawks' recently-released coach, Mike Budenholzer, however, appear to have the inside track.
That said, it's not over until it's over — and Juwan Howard has as good a shot as any.
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