The Brooklyn Nets and Sean Marks continue to build their never-ending staff by adding Michael Batiste as a new big man coach, reports David Pick of Basketball Insiders.
Batiste is a well-traveled veteran that has played in Europe since going undrafted in 1999, minus a one-season stint with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2002-2003. With stops in Belgium, Italy, Turkey, and Greece, Batiste has plenty of knowledge worth bringing to Brooklyn. In Memphis, Batiste averaged 6.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in 16 minutes over 75 games, but found much more success overseas.
As for achievements? Batiste’s got plenty — take a deep breath! The Long Beach native took home the Euroleague Championship in 2007, 2009, and 2011, was selected to the tournament’s First Team once, is a 2x Triple Crown winner. In the Greek League, Batiste is an absolute legend — a 9x champion from 2004-2011 and then again in 2014, a 7x Greek Cup winner, 6x All-Star, and 5x member of the league’s First Team.
Oh, and he collected the Greek League MVP and Finals MVP in 2010. Shortly after Pick’s tweet, Batiste himself confirmed the move:
Thanks! Happy to be a part of the family https://t.co/OcDVLKftDk
— Michael Batiste (@coachmb1977) June 27, 2016
Batiste joins an strong internationally taught coaching staff as the Nets search for short and long term answers heading into the 2016-2017 season. Immediate beneficiaries includes Chris McCullough and Egidijus Mockevicius as the former assistant coach for the D-League’s Canton Charge will work closely alongside head coach Kenny Atkinson.
