He will not go to Paris like the others. And he will not receive a medal either if the Americans invite themselves onto the podium. But Jim Boylen has been a big part of Team USA's journey in recent months.
As Team USA has been a driving force in the coach's life. At the time of the Covid epidemic, he lost his brother to cancer and went through a divorce. A difficult sequence for the technician, who had just been fired by the Bulls after his two-year term as head coach (2018-2020).
Without knowing what his future would hold, the former assistant coach (Rockets, Pacers, Spurs, etc.) will receive a decisive phone call in 2021. That of USA Basketball asking him to take the lead of the American selection for the qualifying windows for the 2023 World Cup.
“ The only way to participate is to not have a job. I told Sean Ford (the head of the men's program) that I would swim to do it “, remembers the coachwho didn't care about taking on a much less prestigious position than the one Steve Kerr holds today.
Because his task will have a much greater value on a personal level. The blessing is that I was able to grieve my divorce and be with my kids. I was able to grieve the loss of my brother and get over being fired. ” says Jim Boylen, who leads a team mainly composed of G-League players.
A better version of himself
And so what if this FIBA executive has little to compare with the atmosphere of the playoffs at the United Center, which he only experienced as an assistant. The competitive aspect was exactly what I needed at that time in my life. “, says the coach, according to whom ” There are 77 possessions in a FIBA game, and 102 in an NBA game. Every possession in FIBA is like gold. »
Under his command, the Americans won nine of their 12 qualifying games between November 2021 and February 2023. Team USA made it to the World Cup where they finished fourth, securing their Olympic berth.
Qualifying for last year's international event was an absolute must. Without it, Jim Boylen would have been considered the “ guy who lost and couldn't get USA to World Cup “.
Present in Las Vegas, as part of the preparation of the first team, with the “Select Team”, he thus contributed, from a little further away, to the team's Olympic trip. And this experience helped bring him back to the NBA benches. Last season, he was assistant to Rick Carlisle at the Pacers.
“ I'm a better coach, a better version of myself than I was. I've grown up, I've gotten my butt kicked a little bit, and that's what counts. I'm doing really well. ” he concludes.
