"I'm happy where I am right now" - Despite finding NBA intriguing, Nate Oats finds college coaching life more "conducive"
Nate Oats has turned Alabama’s basketball program into one of the best in the nation. His NBA-style offensive sets and actions have the Crimson Tide eyeing a back-to-back deep NCAA run. Last season’s Final Four appearance was the first for Alabama in his all-time history.
With that, Oats was asked about his thoughts on coaching in the NBA on the College Hoops Today podcast. Nate Oats admitted the idea crossing his mind. Moreover, he briefly touched on the overall benefits of NBA-style coaching that he provides his program with. However, in light of personal life, he tended to gravitate more towards college basketball.
"The NBA intrigues me for sure," Oats said. "Training camps open up this week in the NBA, and our staff is going to split up around the country and learn different concepts and bring them back."
Oats added:
"But I've got three daughters. I think the college coaching lifestyle makes it more conducive to being a good father. You're not on the road like you are all the time in the NBA. I'm happy where I am right now. We love it at Alabama. I'm going to continue to study the NBA, but we love it here right now."
College basketball sees each team playing 30 to 40 games in a season, depending on their post-season success. However, in the NBA, each team is slated for at least 82 fixtures (41 on the road), which can increase to be 85 depending on the In-Season Tournament and Play-In performance.
Thereonwards, more than half of the teams are up for four to 28 games in the post-season.
Nate Oats' Alabama is a finalist to land the top recruit in the nation
Alabama Crimson Tide hosted AJ Dybantsa on September 27. Apart from the ritual of giving fans Dybantsa's first look into Crimson Tide jerseys, the visit was filled with a lot of fun activities.
Currently, Nate Oats is among Dybantsa's other finalists: Auburn, Tar Heels, Baylor, USC, Kansas, Kansas State and BYU.
Moreover, the program's assistant coach, Preston Murphy, was AJ Dybantsa's first EYBL coach (team Expressions) and one of the first names to mutually recognize his caliber.
Like Dybantsa, Murpy believes in his potential to become an impactful two-way player in the NBA.