After reviewing the situation and relying on precedent, the NBA has informed the Utah Jazz that Keyonte George will not be able to coach during their Las Vegas Summer League game against the Washington Wizards on Thursday, league sources told the Deseret News.
The Jazz were informed Wednesday that George, the same as any other active player, will not be allowed to take on any kind of official coaching role, in summer league or otherwise, even without compensation.
George is not the first active NBA player who has wanted to join the coaching ranks on the sideline, even in a volunteer capacity, according to league sources, and the league wants to keep the rules consistent across the board.
George has spent the majority of the summer in Salt Lake City and has been around the younger players every day as team has prepared for Summer League contests.
During a recent practice, George drew up a play, and after the play was successful there were jokes about getting George on the coaching staff.
It was originally thought that so long as George did not receive any compensation and took on the role as a volunteer, he could help out on the sidelines in the Jazz’s July 9 game against the Wizards.
Both George and the Jazz’s summer coaching staff were looking forward to the single-game opportunity for the fourth-year guard.
“He’s been great,” Jazz assistant coach Steve Wojciechowski said on Tuesday after the final Salt Lake City Summer League game. “He’s been at every practice, he’s helping our Jazz guys who are part of this experience this year with words of encouragement, the perspective of his experiences as a player... He’s been totally engaged, and that’s really, really exciting.
“He drew up a play at practice, and it worked out pretty well, so I’m hoping he saved a few for Thursday night.”
While George can’t coach Thursday, the league’s decision is not likely to stop him from calling to his Jazz teammates from the courtside fan seats at Thomas & Mack Center.