George Karl inflamed emotions when he called Doc Rivers ?anointed? in an Esquire Magazine interview.  His accusation speaks to friction between assistant coaches who have put in their time and former players who skip paying dues and go directly to head coaching jobs.  Michael Murphy of the Houston Chronicle writes that there are benefits to both paths.  And, the league ? which had formerly relied much more heavily on training assistants ? is looking increasingly to find experience in both realms for head coaches.

Of the 29 NBA head coaches, only five have no NBA or ABA playing experience. Ten years ago, 11 of the league's 27 teams began the season with head coaches who had no playing experience, and 20 years ago, it was 12 of 23.

Teams have relied increasingly on former players because they value the experience they can bring to bear.  Former players can relate to current players? problems both on and off the court.  And, the players can respect that their coach has already been through what they experience.  With so much of a team?s performance determined by locker-room chemistry, teams find this experience invaluable.

At the same time, teams need the strength in Xs and Os that training as an assistant can bring.  Detroit?s Joe Dumars says he won?t consider a head coach who hasn?t put in a few years as an assistant first, though he also values the experience a former player brings.  And, with the recent freedom zone defenses have won from the league, Murphy says, the demand for good strategy will increase.