After 16 seasons playing in the NBA, Garrett Temple is picking up a clipboard.
Temple, 40, spent the three seasons with the Toronto Raptors, serving primarily as a mentor to the team’s many youngsters. He played just 22 games last season, and a total of 77 through his time in Toronto.
Despite his lack of playing time, teammates have routinely praised Temple’s guidance and locker room presence. Players around the league have echoed those sentiments, with Temple serving on the National Basketball Players’ Association as a vice president since 2017.
His NBA career began in 2009, splitting his rookie season between the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs as an undrafted guard out of LSU. Temple would play for 12 teams over his 16 seasons in the NBA. His longest stint with one team was with the Washington Wizards (2012-2016).
Over 793 career regular-season games, Temple averaged 5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
He now joins a new-look coaching staff in Dallas, led by May, after he departed from the national champion Michigan Wolverines, taking over for Jason Kidd, who was let go following a five-year stint.
Joining Temple on May’s staff will be ex-New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green.
