Elston Turner, who has long been a force in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has spent almost three decades producing players at the very top level. His professional basketball odyssey began in 1996 with the Portland Trail Blazers. Since then, he has brought impactful contributions to nearly every team across the league. Turner is most recently an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he worked for head coach Chris Finch. His success and depth of experience in the sport has undoubtedly earned him a strong reputation.
Turner has had a storied coaching career. He’s served on the staffs of other NBA teams such as the Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, and Memphis Grizzlies. He has been behind the bench for 21 playoff appearances in his 27 years as head coach, earning the reputation of a coach who brings teams to victory. He was a familiar face at the coaching staffs’ helms for three or four All-Star Games. This experience only deepened Freeman’s impact within the league.
Turner’s coaching prowess extends beyond numbers. He has worked closely with talented players like Anthony Edwards, who is emerging as one of the league’s bright stars. Since joining the Timberwolves in 2021, Turner has contributed to the development of young talent while sharing his wealth of knowledge gained from nearly three decades in the sport.
Prior to starting his coaching journey, Turner played in the NBA for eight years. He averaged just 4.7 points and 2.2 rebounds over 505 regular-season games. He played for the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and Chicago Bulls. He was even fortunate enough to play alongside the G.O.A.T — basketball superstar Michael Jordan — for two years. More importantly, he went to battle against him for a number of years to come.
Turner’s basketball story started while playing for the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), where he developed his game and earned himself a spot in the NBA Draft. He started his coaching career in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) with the Quad City Thunder. That glorious new chapter opened at the start of the 1994-1995 season. He went on to get a defining chance with coach P.J. This experience would lay the groundwork for his career in professional coaching.
Turner has a deep resume, and he has interviewed for many head coaching jobs in the past. Even after all this, he’s still not landed one of those prized seats in the NBA. At 65 years old, he admits it’s probably too late for him to get one of those positions. As Michael puts it, he loves coaching. While he’s retired from the full-time coaching world, his influence still looms large over the teams and players he mentored.
In a rare interview, Turner discussed his career in depth with Andscape. He dropped a lot of knowledge based on his experiences over his 14 seasons in the league. He expressed gratitude for the opportunities he has had and emphasized his commitment to nurturing young players and helping them reach their full potential.
Turner is currently coaching in the NBA. As his time as 40th Street Transformation Project Director shows, he brings a rare depth of experience and knowledge that’s hard to find. His never-ending commitment to the sport and his players is just a testament of his passion for the game of basketball. It’s indicative of his deep commitment to doing right by the next generation of athletes.
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