In his seven-year career as an individual trainer and assistant coach in the NBA, Phil Handy has worked with numerous superstars such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant. DAZN and SPOX met the new man at the side of Raptors head coach Nick Nurse for an interview.
Handy talked about the differences between European basketball and the NBA, his collaboration with LeBron and Kobe, rivalries in the NBA, his latest protégé Kawhi Leonard and Holger Geschwindner. He also explained what his project StarVizn, an online platform for coaching, is all about.
DAZN/SPOX: Mr Handy, after a short stopover in the NBA, you spent most of your career as an active basketball player abroad, playing in Germany, France and Australia, among others. What did you take with you from that time?
Phil Handy: European basketball and the basketball we play here in the USA is a bit different. You see a lot more European teams now. More ball movement, more pick’n’rolls – it no longer depends so much on individual talent, it has become more of a team game.
DAZN/SPOX: In 2011 you came to the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant coach and worked with legends such as Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol. How was that for you?
Handy: As a coach I want to train the best. And which player fits better than Kobe Bryant? When I got this chance, I saw it as a big challenge, but also as a good opportunity to train with one of the best players ever and learn how to coach such players – I’m grateful for the chance to start here in L.A.. Because without that time, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here.
DAZN/SPOX: After two years in the City of Angels, the change to the Cavaliers followed, with whom you reached the finals four times, brought a title to Ohio and were allowed to work together with LeBron James …
Mobile: LeBron is one of the best players that has ever played. But he also wants to be coached. I think coaches often think that such players don’t have to be coached anymore. But the opposite is true. These players want to be challenged and improve every day. Even with a player of his calibre there is always something to improve: his footwork, his ball handling, his throw, his post-up game. He regards the game as a complete package and always tries to improve in every area. It is unbelievable to see a player like him stepping out of his comfort zone every day.
DAZN/SPOX: In the offseason James left the Cavs and signed with the Lakers. What do you think your former team with LBJ can do in the coming season?
Handy: They were some years less successful, but now they are back with LeBron, where they were before.
DAZN/SPOX: After the trade for Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors’ goal for 2018/19 is clear: Toronto wants to reach the finals. How do you see the chances for your new team?
Handy: LeBron has left the East, so there are some teams that can be successful. And Toronto has just as good a chance of reaching the finals as any other team. I think the team we have is still very strong. I think we have a really good chance of winning the title in the east and Kawhi will play an important role there. He is an incredible person, works very hard and he loves basketball. This is gonna be a great year for us.
DAZN/SPOX: What is your first impression of Leonard with the Raptors?
Cell phone: He’s a reticent guy. But when you meet him, you realize his great personality. He talks a lot, he laughs, makes jokes and it was already very nice to meet him.
DAZN/SPOX: They had a workout together with Leonard, LeBron and Kevin Durant in summer. How did this rather unusual constellation come about?
Handy: LeBron and I spent a few weeks training in Los Angeles during the summer and continued our work together. Then I signed with Toronto, afterwards the Raptors got Kawhi by trade. I think LeBron has always respected Kawhi and vice versa. So it all came together very organically, and Kevin Durant was one of them. Everyone has always had great respect for each other. They’re the three best small forwards in the NBA. And getting these three together in the hall for a workout is simply unbelievable.
DAZN/SPOX: LeBron at the Lakers, Durant at the Warriors, you and Kawhi at the Raptors – aren’t there any friction during training?
Mobile: During the season we are rivals. I don’t want to talk to you. Don’t ask me anything, I’m not gonna help you improve. In the off-season I see basketball as a sport. I don’t care which team the players play for. If they want to get better in the off-season, then my love for the sport is so great that I want to help every player.
DAZN/SPOX: This is not only true for players, but also for other coaches. With your project StarVizn you want to pass on your experiences and tips to colleagues.
Mobile: I had the pleasure of working with Kobe, LeBron, Kyrie Irving, Steve Nash and many more. Many things I have tried with them and learned from them I have included in an online program with StarVizn.
DAZN/SPOX: How exactly can you imagine this project?
Handy: They want to film everything I do and teach. The result is a kind of curriculum for the basketball world that can be accessed online by players and coaches. The goal is, in principle, to pass on my knowledge. My program is there to help coaches. First, to learn how to communicate with players. And secondly, it should show that training and working with players doesn’t have to be scripted. Basketball is an instinct sport.
DAZN/SPOX: Nevertheless every coach has to take his players by the hand and find his own style. Holger Geschwindner, Dirk Nowitzki’s personal mentor, is the perfect example of this, isn’t he?
Handy: I respect him because many people have called him crazy because of his techniques. But from my point of view, being crazy is also a good thing. I think the most successful people are always a little crazy. I’m not that crazy, but I know that my techniques are different.