P.J. Carlesimo is a former basketball player and coach who had a successful career in the sport. He played college basketball at Fordham University, where he was a standout player and earned All-American honors. After college, Carlesimo began his coaching career as an assistant coach at various colleges, including Syracuse and Seton Hall.
In 1991, Carlesimo was hired as the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. He led the team to the NBA Finals in 1992, but they lost to the Chicago Bulls. Carlesimo coached the Trail Blazers for four seasons before being fired in 1994.
After his stint in Portland, Carlesimo became the head coach of the Golden State Warriors. He coached the team for three seasons, but was fired in 1999 after a disappointing start to the season.
Carlesimo then became an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, where he helped the team win three NBA championships in 2003, 2005, and 2007. In 2007, Carlesimo was hired as the head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics. He coached the team for two seasons before they relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder.
Carlesimo was fired by the Thunder in 2009 and became an analyst for ESPN. He returned to coaching in 2011 as an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors. In 2012, Carlesimo was hired as the interim head coach of the Brooklyn Nets after the team fired Avery Johnson. He led the Nets to the playoffs, but was not retained as head coach after the season.
Overall, Carlesimo had a successful career as a coach, with a record of 239-315 in the NBA. He was known for his defensive coaching style and his ability to develop young players. Carlesimo also had a successful broadcasting career as an analyst for ESPN and NBC Sports.
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