What an NBA coach, Nate Oats said about latest Alabama basketball hire

Alabama men’s basketball coach Nate Oats commented Monday for the first time publicly on his latest assistant coach hire, Chris Fleming.

“We are excited to welcome Chris Fleming to Tuscaloosa and will be a huge addition to our staff and program,” Oats said in a statement from UA. “Chris brings over a decades worth of coaching experience in the NBA and overseas with most notably the German National Team. He is known for being exceptional at player development and brings a modern approach to the game. Not only is Chris a great coach but is also a high character individual who will be a huge asset to our program. We are excited to welcome him and his family to Tuscaloosa.”

Fleming joins Alabama after he was most recently working as an assistant coach for the Portland Trailblazers in the NBA. Prior to his time in Portland, Fleming coached for the Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets and Denver Nuggets. Fleming replaces Ryan Pannone, who now coaches Arkansas State.

“Chris is an outstanding basketball coach,” said Kenny Atkinson, coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. “His strong background in player development and his modern approach to the strategy of the game will help him integrate seamlessly into coach Nate Oats’ staff at Alabama.”

Fleming coached under Atkinson with the Nets. His other former bosses include Chauncey Billups, Billy Donovan and Michael Malone. Fleming has coached 11 NBA all-stars in his career.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of Alabama’s great basketball tradition,” Fleming said. “Coach Oats has done an exceptional job implementing an NBA-style system and I really look forward to helping coach and the rest of the staff build for the future.”