Houston Rockets lose key coaching staff member to Europe

Former NBA players don’t always make good coaches.

They say that those who can’t do, teach. So it makes sense that those who can do can’t teach. LeBron James can’t teach anyone how to be a human locomotive with a basketball computer for a brain.

Often, former role players make better coaches. Take Tiago Splitter. He was a hard-working role player during his time in the NBA and a key assistant for the Houston Rockets in 2023-24.

As the 2024-25 season approaches, they lost him.

Let’s take a moment to rejoice for Splitter. He will become the new head coach of Paris Basketball.

He certainly earned his spot. Splitter began playing professional basketball in 1999. He spent about a decade playing overseas before joining the NBA in 2010-11.

After his NBA debut, he spent most of his seven seasons under Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs. That’s quite a track record. Popovich is arguably the best coach in NBA history.

Splitter was not a star. His most productive season came in 2012-13, when he averaged 10.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 0.8 blocks and 0.8 steals per game.

He was a tough, reliable player. Splitter had an advanced understanding of defensive positioning. He could protect the basket in drop coverage and he could also defend at the level. He was sometimes the backup to the legendary Tim Duncan, but Splitter also played alongside him. That experience served him well in the NBA.

Can the Rockets survive without him?

Of course.

Let’s be honest: The Rockets are unlikely to notice Splitter’s absence. This isn’t a criticism of Splitter. It’s a comment on the nature of assistant coaches.

Splitter passed on most of his knowledge to the young Rockets last season. Now he’ll pass it on elsewhere. The Rockets should be sad to see him go, but also happy to see him earn a bigger opportunity:

He is a former player who has become an excellent coach.