Jama Mahlalela

Jama Mahlalela

Mahlalela in 2023
Toronto Raptors
Position	Assistant coach
League	NBA
Personal information
Born	1980 (age 43–44) Mbabane, Swaziland
Nationality	Swazi / Canadian
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Career information
College	UBC (1999–2004)
Coaching career	2004–present
Career history
As coach:
2004–2008	University of Toronto (assistant)
2013–2018	Toronto Raptors (assistant)
2018–2020	Raptors 905
2020–2021	Toronto Raptors (assistant)
2021–2023	Golden State Warriors (assistant)
2023–present	Toronto Raptors (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
As player: Canada West champion (2003) As assistant coach: NBA champion (2022)

Jama Mahlalela (born 1980) is a Swazi-Canadian basketball coach, currently an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Previously he has served as the head coach of Raptors 905 of the NBA G League and an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors.

Career

University of British Columbia

Mahlalela played basketball for the UBC Thunderbirds. He played for five years, served as a team captain, and helped the team win a Canada West title in 2003.^[1] Mahlalela graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree from UBC and the Jama Mahlalela Award was created in his honour.^[2]

Toronto Raptors (2013–2021)

Mahlalela started with the Toronto Raptors in 2006 as a member of the community development staff, leading the Raptors Basketball Academy and various clinics throughout Canada. He was named director of basketball operations for NBA Asia in 2009 and oversaw the League's clinics, youth programs and elite-level development from his base in Hong Kong.^[3] Mahlalela began his tenure as an assistant coach in the 2013–14 NBA season.

On June 19, 2018, Mahlalela was named as the new head coach for the Raptors' affiliated Raptors 905 of the NBA G League.^[4]

On December 4, 2020, it was announced that Mahlalela had rejoined the Toronto Raptors coaching staff as an assistant behind head coach Nick Nurse.

Golden State Warriors (2021–2023)

On August 13, 2021, the Golden State Warriors hired Mahlalela as an assistant coach and director of player development.^[5] In Mahlalela's first season, the Warriors won the 2022 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics in 6 games.

Toronto Raptors (2023–present)

On June 15, 2023, it was announced Mahlalela would return to the Toronto Raptors as one of Darko Rajaković's top assistant coaches.^[6]

Personal life

Mahlalela ran many youth basketball organizations while he was with the Raptors. He has also worked for NBA Cares.^[7]

See also

• List of foreign NBA coaches

References

1. "University of British Columbia Athletics – Former T-Bird Mahlalela named to Toronto Raptors coaching staff". Gothunderbirds.ca. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
2. "JAMA Mahlalela".
3. "Raptors hire assistant coaches Mutombo, Sann; promote Mahlalela to front row". torontosun.com. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
4. "Jama Mahlalela Named Head Coach of Raptors 905". Raptors905.com. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
5. "Warriors Announce Coaching Staff Additions". nba.com. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
6. "Jama Mahlalela returns to Toronto Raptors coaching staff". tsn.ca. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
7. "Jama Mahlalela taking hoops global | Toronto Star". Thestar.com. 2010-02-22. Retrieved 2016-02-16.