Conway native Massey takes step toward NBA coaching career
Tanner Massey and the basketball players he works with have a lot in common.
That includes their career dreams.
“The ultimate goal is to be in the NBA and that’s the same standpoint for our guys,” said Massey, in his third season with the Erie (Pa.) BayHawks, the NBA Development League affiliate of the Orlando Magic. “If you’re in the D-League, the goal is to be in the NBA obviously. It’s very hard to make it and a lot of guys don’t make it just because it’s so hard to make it in the NBA.”
Massey, a Conway native, took a step in the right direction this fall, earning a job on the BayHawks’ coaching staff as a coach’s associate after two years serving as a paid intern.
For the past two years Massey, a 2010 Coastal Carolina University graduate, did many odd jobs for the BayHawks, anything from laundry, game prep, going over film, working out players, videotaping games and helping out the team’s trainers. “I did anything and everything,” Massey said.
While Massey said he’ll still help out the two interns on staff when needed, this year his focus will be more on the court.
“I’m a lot more hands-on with basketball [now],” he said.
The Magic were really good to me. They’ve gone out of their way to help me. I’ve been loyal to them for two years and they recognize that.
Tanner Massey
Massey said he’ll have more responsibility with the players, working on skill development, giving out scouting reports and walking them through film and shootarounds.
“That was really appealing to me – being responsible for information that is being emphasized to the players, strategy wise and certain things to look for from a personnel standpoint,” said Massey, who worked for the basketball teams of Coastal Carolina, South Alabama and South Carolina while in college prior to joining the BayHawks. “That’s fun. That’s the time where you can say ‘Hey, this is what I’ve seen on film and this is what I noticed’ and I’m going to emphasize this directly to our guys. That’s fun for me.”
It’s humbling to an extent, but for me I’m just doing my job and helping the guys get better. Get in the gym with them, sweat with them and you watch a ton of film with them, you talk to them, go out to eat, lift weights with them. You build relationships. It’s fun and it’s gratifying, but it’s only gratifying because you’re helping them, not only as a player but you’re getting to know them and build relationships outside of basketball. That’s the most fun – when you really get to know the guy and he ends up trusting you and you have some good conversations outside of basketball. That’s fun.
Tanner Massey
At 28 years old, Massey also can easily relate to D-League players, most of whom are anywhere from 18 to 30 years old.
To me, that’s when it’s most fun. You’re able to help them on the court, but after you work with them it’s ‘Hey, man. Let’s go get a bite to eat,’ and you start talking about other things: life, college, what they’re going through as professional basketball players. It’s fun.
Tanner Massey
“Yeah, I’m young and I’m able to get out there and work with them and sweat with them and I think that’s very important,” he said. “But they also know that I’m serious about it and I want to coach them hard and work with them. I feel like they respond really well. I’ve also grown a ton in that area. I’ve still got a long way to go, I feel, but I’ve gotten better. A few years ago I was very timid and shy.”
It’s just good to see his game grow. He was with us in the D-League for almost a full year and now he’s doing great for Dallas.
Tanner Massey on two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry’s brother
Seth Curry, who played for the BayHawks during the 2014-15 seasonHe originally landed the internship with the Bayhawks by way of solid recommendations, three of which came from friends who happened to be mutual between Massey and BayHawks coach Bill Peterson.
“God is good,” Massey said. “It’s pretty wild how it worked, but they all vouched for me.”
Two-plus years later Massey will be sitting on the bench with the coaches and traveling to half of the team’s away games. Prior to that, Massey worked only home games and sat behind the bench.
“It felt really good. I was just happy that my boss and the Magic believed in me and they were willing to give me more responsibility even though I’m still by far the youngest guy on the basketball staff; outside of our interns, I’m still the youngest guy [and] they were willing to go all the way,” he said of the promotion. “I was just very grateful and just happy. It’s what you want. It’s what I’ve tried to get the last few years, was somebody to give me more responsibility and believe in me and when you get it you can’t help but be happy.”
The BayHawks open the season Saturday night with a home game against the Windy City Bulls at 7 p.m., and Massey’s eager to dig in.
I want to be the coach. Some guys want to get into the front office, other guys want to be coaches. I want to coach. I want to be able to help them in games and work with them on the court and do all those things in regards to games. I love scouting and I love watching players and evaluating. Nothing really beats getting on the court and working with guys. Hopefully I’ll be fortunate enough to find something like that down the road.
Tanner Massey
“The players, they’re great guys. We brought in a very good group for training camp,” Massey said. “They’re guys who just want to work and are hungry. That’s the main thing. You want guys who are hungry because you have to be hungry to make it in the D-League.”
He should know.
David Wetzel: 843-626-0295, @MYBSports
This story was originally published November 11, 2016 at 4:05 PM with the headline "Conway native Massey takes step toward NBA coaching career."