JUNE 1: Sweeney’s hiring is official, the team announced (Twitter link). He will remain with the Spurs through the NBA Finals. “Sean brings a tremendous work ethic and a high degree of intensity that set the tone for everything he does,” president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said. “Sean’s attention to detail and his ability to communicate and teach the game clearly stands out. He’s grounded in competitiveness and accountability, while also embracing a modern, competitive approach to coaching.”
MAY 29: The Magic are finalizing a deal with top Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney and will hire him as their head coach, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). He’ll receive a four-year deal, reports Chris Mannix of SI.com (Twitter link).
Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line had reported earlier today that Orlando was “very interested” in Sweeney, who was connected to multiple teams with head coaching vacancies this offseason. The Magic had also been considering Jeff Van Gundy and Billy Donovan, who were the club’s other finalists, per Charania (Twitter link).
Sweeney, who joined the Nets as a video coordinator in 2011, was promoted to an assistant coaching role in Brooklyn in 2013, then followed Jason Kidd to Milwaukee, working as a Bucks assistant from 2014-18. Following a three-year stint as a Pistons assistant from 2018-21, Sweeney reunited with Kidd in Dallas, serving as an assistant for the Mavericks from 2021-25.
A year ago, Sweeney left Dallas to become the lead assistant under Mitch Johnson in San Antonio. He earned the title of associate head coach with the Spurs and was responsible for running the team’s defense, which improved from 25th in defensive rating in 2024/25 to third in ’25/26.
After they parted ways with former head coach Jamahl Mosley, there was a sense that the Magic might be seeking a veteran head coach with prior experience, since they were seeking a candidate who could help the team make a deeper playoff run following three consecutive first-round exits. However, the Magic will opt for another first-time head coach, as Sweeney “blew away” the team during the interview process, as Charania writes in a full story.
According to Charania and Stein (Twitter link), Magic officials flew to San Antonio during the Western Conference finals to meet with Sweeney. The plan is for the veteran assistant to finish out the remainder of the postseason with the Spurs before joining the Magic. That could happen within the next few days if the Spurs are unable to beat the Thunder in Game 7 on Saturday.
The Bulls had interest in Sweeney, who was also said to be in the mix for the Pelicans’ head coaching job before New Orleans hired Mosley. Additionally, there was a belief that the Mavericks might seek a reunion with their former assistant, though there hasn’t been much chatter about that job, so it’s unclear if Dallas ever really pursued him.
With Sweeney headed to Orlando, three head coaching searches are now complete, as the Magic join the Pelicans (Mosley) and Bucks (Taylor Jenkins) in hiring new coaches. The Bulls, Mavericks, and Trail Blazers still have openings.
Good for Sean, I see the Spurs coaching tree is alive and well!
Happy for him. Tough for Spurs players to learn this on the eve of game 7.
“A year ago, Sweeney left Dallas to become the lead assistant under Mitch Johnson in San Antonio. He earned the title of associate head coach with the Spurs and was responsible for running the team’s defense, which improved from 25th in defensive rating in 2024/25 to third in ’25/26.”
I’m sure Sweeney’s a good coach, but this statement about the Spurs’ dramatic rise in defensive performance seems to be lacking just one important detail of context…
Luke Kornet addition?
Lol, yeah, that’s it!
Heh, in all seriousness, I get the point about Wembanyama, but he actually only played about 350 more minutes this season than he did last season. The Spurs’ numbers this season, both when he was on the floor and when he wasn’t, were waaaay better than they were last season.
Wemby and the other young guys are improving significantly from year to year, of course, and Sweeney shouldn’t get all the credit for the defensive improvement. But I think he earned some of the credit.
That’s a good point – illustrated, for example, in Game 6 when Wembanyama was off the court in the first quarter and the Spurs shut down the Thunder attack.
I’m not sure that he has been hired because of the experience in San Antonio. Sean Sweeney has been a name tossed around since before he became a rumored head coaching candidate a few seasons ago. He got a ton of credit for Jason Kidd’s first ever good coaching performance.
Who knows how good he is or isn’t. How sharp he is or isn’t. Or how connected to the players he is or isn’t. But he’s been discussed for so long, it’s nice to be able to see what he can do with a really ill-fitting roster.
My curiosity is were Billy Donovan and Jeff Van Gundy being used as big-name leverage to keep the price of the ask from Sweeney down.
Anyone with Wenby and Castle in their team can improve the defensive ratings from one year to the next. I am not impressed with that statistic. The only reason San Antonio improves on its defense has a name, his name is Victor Wembanyama, not Sean Sweeny. Is like in the 90s all the teams with Dikembe Mutombo were always top five on defense teams, not because of any coach but for Dikembe.
If the only reason is Wemby, why did you mention Castle?
Because Wemby doesn’t defense guards
They had Wemby and Castle the year before and weren’t that great. Think you’re underselling his impact and defensive schemes.
spends a month saying they want a veteran coach to bring them to the next level.. hire a coach with no experience…. this is why teams stay bad for decades in a nutshell
Let’s see what he can do.
Magic need to go ahead & bring Ant Simons back home. They leaned on Bane way too much as far as backcourt playmaking/scoring/shooting last season. Simons fits his hometown team almost as much as the other ‘Ant’… link to youtube.com
Good call about Ant Simmons to Otown, but I think it will be a little difficult due to Orlando’s financial issues.
Anything worth doing is gonna be at least a lil difficult. They can waive/stretch JIsaac to get a lil flexibility. I’d consider moving Suggs to Minnesota/elsewhere as well.
So who can the spurs get to replace him ..that’ll keep the defense going..I know wemby and castle have a lot to do with it ..but they need someone to keep it going ..
Another yes man who dresses like a bum
Wear a suit and tie
If you follow generations,suits were a must be 30 years ago.ChatGP generation coming,they are comfortable in pyjamas
Losers are comfortable wearing pajamas in public
Now that Sweeney is off the board..coach Quinn from Miami should be up next for a head coaching job.
It’s a good thing we know this now instead of say on Sunday. It’s because Shams is so connected. All hail Shams.
It’s good to see more talented assistants get opportunities like this instead of teams just shuffling around bad “veteran” coaches like they’re playing musical chairs.
Good hire for Magic. Instead of getting Billy which everyone expected, they went with the hottest coaching candidate in this year’s coaching cycle. Roster is still in cap hell without any real draft assets but very very good hire for Orlando.
HOME DEPOT COACH HERE WE COME!