Appreciating what Popeye Jones brings to the Indiana Pacers coaching staff

Popeye Jones doesn’t always get the attention and appreciation he deserves as one of the Indiana Pacers assistant coaches.

Popeye Jones, like many NBA assistant coaches, is hardly the center of attention. Unless he is talking to Jeremiah Johnson after halftime on the Fox Sports Indiana broadcast, you might forget that he is on the Indiana Pacer staff.

But just because he is less heralded than fellow assistant Dan Burke doesn’t mean he doesn’t leave a significant impact.

Watch before games and you’ll see him working with Myles Turner and the rest of Indiana’s big men. Considering the jump in Turner’s offensive game this season — and his elite defense the past few years — credit is due to in part Coach Jones.

While a player’s own talent and raw potential is the biggest part, coaches like Jones have a major impact in bringing out the best in their players. The right approach can alter just how quickly, if ever, that potential is tapped into.

And when you consider the personalities of Burke and head coach Nate McMillan — the demanding, serious, coaching archetype — Jones self-described positivity is a counterbalance to the team’s head coach and de facto associate head coach.

We’ve seen the power of positivity with Victor Oladipo, so it is foolish to discount Jones’ approach considering the no-nonsense, don’t eff with the game vibe of McMillan. Much like Thanos’ worldview, there is almost always a need for balance on a coaching staff.

Popeye Jones’ resume as a player

It’s easy to forget that some of these NBA coaches once played in the same league, and in Jones’ case, he did it pretty well.

A journeyman in his NBA career, Jones averaged 7 points and 7.9 rebounds and nearly averaged a double-double with 9.4 points and 9.7 rebounds in the 305 games he started in. During the 1995-96 season with the Dallas Mavericks, Jones did, in fact, average a double-double with 11.3 points and 10.8 rebounds a game.

So when Popeye tells Turner, Domantas Sabonis, or any of Indiana’s bigs what to do, it isn’t merely him asking them as a teacher and coach. He is asking them as someone who had relative success in the NBA. Sometimes players want coaches with playing experience for this very reason. It’s easier to listen to a coach that did what they are asking the player to do than one just speaking as a teacher.

With now nearly a decade of coaching experience under his belt, it’s clear Jones resume as a coach is solid as well. So whether it’s a new wrinkle in T.J. Leaf’s game or the steady improvements of Sabonis, it’s worth saying a small thank you to Popeye.