Another shakeup for the Warriors: Jama Mahlalela leaving for a position in Toronto.
The Golden State Warriors are about to lose a crucial part of their coaching staff, less than two weeks after Bob Myers announced his resignation as general manager.
Jama Mahlalela, the Warriors’ director of player development, is departing to become a key assistant with the Toronto Raptors, a league source confirmed to The Chronicle. ESPN was the first to report the news.
Mahlalela’s departure is a huge setback for the Warriors, who are attempting to return to title contention despite an older roster and a large luxury tax. He was promoted to a front-of-the-bench job last summer after Mike Brown resigned to become the Sacramento Kings’ head coach, and he is an underappreciated driver behind Golden State’s 2022 NBA championship.
Mahlalela, 43, oversaw the Warriors’ player development program this season, as well as their replacement tactics. He has also been praised for his collaborative efforts with Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, and Jonathan Kuminga.
Steve Kerr has compared Mahlalela to a chief of staff. He served as a hands-on mentor for the organization’s young coaches and executives.
Given Kerr’s aggressive pursuit of Mahlalela during the Warriors’ staff restructure in spring 2021, he may be disappointed to see Mahlalela go for the only other NBA franchise for whom he has worked. Mahlalela was with the Raptors for more than a decade, rising from entry-level employee to valuable assistance.
His work with Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Fred VanVleet cemented his status as one of the league’s top player-development coaches. While with the Raptors, Mahlalela became active with Giants of Africa, a nonprofit formed by Raptors President Masai Ujiri to build basketball facilities on the continent.
Mahlalela, who spent much of his boyhood in Toronto and served as an assistant at the University of Toronto for four seasons (2004-08), will feel a sense of homecoming with Thursday’s announcement. He will work with Darko Rajaković, the new head coach of Toronto. Pat Delany, a Washington assistant, will allegedly be a prominent assistant in Toronto.
The Warriors can take comfort in the knowledge that Kenny Atkinson is still their assistant. After apparently interviewing for many head-coaching positions in recent weeks, he is anticipated to rejoin Kerr’s staff.
