On August 27, according to the official social media of Guangzhou Men’s Basketball, Nate Mitchell has become the new head coach of Guangzhou Loong Lions.
The official statement reads as follows:
With aspirations and expectations for the new season, Loong Lions Basketball Club announces: The current assistant coach of the Canadian Men’s National Team and former assistant coach of NBA teams Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, and Milwaukee Bucks – Nathaniel Mitchell – officially becomes the head coach of Guangzhou Loong Lions! Coach Mitchell, welcome to Guangzhou!
Nate Mitchell, born in Toronto, Canada, is currently an assistant coach for the Canadian Men’s National Team. At the recently concluded 2024 Paris Olympics, he participated with the team and secured fifth place.
In 2014, Coach Mitchell officially began his coaching career with the NBA Boston Celtics’ G League team, Maine Red Claws. From 2015 to 2018, he returned to his hometown to serve as an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors’ G League team, Raptors 905. During his tenure, he not only helped the team win the 2016-2017 NBA G League championship but also fully unlocked the potential of Raptors’ first-round draft pick Pascal Siakam and undrafted player Fred VanVleet, enabling them to grow from G League players into core members of the 2019 NBA championship team and NBA All-Stars!
During the 2018-2019 season, Coach Mitchell joined the coaching staff under renowned coach James Borrego and spent three seasons with the Charlotte Hornets. In recent seasons, Coach Mitchell served as an assistant on the Toronto Raptors under Nick Nurse and on the Milwaukee Bucks under Adrian Griffin.
At the national team level, Coach Mitchell has been collaborating with Basketball Canada since 2016. In 2019, when Nick Nurse, head coach of the NBA champion Toronto Raptors, took over as head coach of the Canadian Men’s National Team, experienced Coach Mitchell became a key member of the coaching staff. In 2023, Coach Mitchell accompanied the team to the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup and advanced to the semifinals. In the bronze medal match, the Canadian Men’s National Team defeated the United States 127-118, securing a precious bronze medal and achieving the best record in team history!
During his time with the national team, helping the young generation of Canadian players grow was one of Coach Mitchell’s core tasks. This includes current NBA MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, NBA champion Jamal Murray, Andrew Nembhard who shone in the NBA playoffs, and backup guard Alexander Walker of the Timberwolves, among many other young talents.
For Guangzhou Loong Lions, the arrival of Coach Mitchell will help the club further enhance its core competitiveness. Based on his extensive coaching experience in the NBA and FIBA basketball, Coach Mitchell can not only help the club connect with top global basketball platforms and resources but also provide young players with advanced basketball tactical guidance and game experience every day, allowing them to progress faster and more steadily in their professional careers, winning more glory for the team and the city!
Recently, Coach Mitchell will officially arrive in Guangzhou to join the team. Let us all welcome Coach Mitchell and look forward to the arrival of the new CBA season together!