I had a special relationship with Giannis Antetokounmpo, says ex-Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Mike Dunlap

SINGAPORE – One of the underrated attributes of a successful coach is a good listening ear.

It is something that former National Basketball Association (NBA) coach Mike Dunlap has honed over the last 43 years, some of which were spent working with the sport’s biggest stars – including Milwaukee Bucks’ power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Dunlap, who was assistant coach when the Bucks won the championship in 2021, told The Straits Times: “You learn early that you manage personalities, the technical end of it is strategy.

“But more than that, is the behaviour and the motivation of trying to get them to play hard because we have so many games, so it’s a delicate balance.

“Be a good listener, and also, when they’re frustrated, help them with their frustration, and instead of being judgmental, empower them to be part of the solution.”

Working with a “generational talent” like Antetokounmpo when he was there from 2020 to 2023 was a career milestone for Dunlap.

“It was probably the inroads that were made with Giannis when he was struggling and I had a special relationship with him,” the 66-year-old said of his fondest memory in Milwaukee.

“I listened to him and never said anything, or maybe said something of value that helped him move forward. You can tell him something once and he’s got it.

“It’s a privilege, you know, it’s not a right and when you’re with those special athletes, since they’re generational, they don’t come along very often.”

His listening ear extended beyond the players, as he also provided support to basketball legend Michael Jordan.

He said of his 2012-2013 stint as coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, who are now known as the Hornets: “Michael Jordan was my boss. And there were times when on a Saturday I’d go into the office and it was just the two of us for two, three hours at a time.

“And those exchanges with him were brilliant. I didn’t see him as an icon. I saw him as somebody that had smarts, was competitive, but also he needed somebody to listen to him.”

Dunlap is in town for the International Council for Coaching Excellence Global Coach Conference at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre from Nov 30 to Dec 3.

A number of top coaches, researchers and sports administrators are here to discuss issues and share their experiences.

Dunlap, who now works as a consultant for the Perth Wildcats in Australia’s National Basketball League, boasts an extensive curriculum vitae that also includes stints as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets and college teams like Loyola Marymount University and the University of Arizona.

While others aspire to be a head coach, he prefers a supporting role, saying: “What I enjoyed more was being an assistant because I felt I had more impact with players that were vulnerable, frustrated and needed help.”

He added that because he had experience in both roles, there was a greater impact as an assistant, as players would have a “tendency to talk to the assistants more than the head coach.”

Having spent time in college and elite basketball, he has some advice for Singapore, noting that the country needs more sports development and that it will take time to build talent.

A foreign coach, he said, “is at a disadvantage because they don’t understand your culture” and therefore it is important that the foreign coach assesses the needs and listens to “what the culture is really about... to better connect with the children”.

The conference also saw three coaches – Pang Qing Liang (para archery), former international Isa Halim (ActiveSG football) and Winson Cheong (volleyball) – being awarded the Singapore Coach Medallion, which recognises outstanding and inspiring local coaches.