When his pro playing career ended after he appeared in five games for the Timberwolves last season, veteran guard John Lucas III knew exactly where he wanted life to take him.
His father, John, has coached 12 years in the NBA, most or all of six seasons as a head coach. Included were four seasons in the 1990s when he coached San Antonio and Philadelphia and hired a young, ambitious assistant named Tom Thibodeau.
"I've known Thibs, it seems like forever," said Lucas, who was just 9 when they first met.
So when it became clear that his playing career was over after he played for six NBA teams in parts of eight seasons, Lucas turned down a couple of other opportunities and returned to the Wolves, this time as an assistant coach focused on player skills development.