Tree Rollins, Shaq and the end of the NBA’s player-coach era

Veteran team leaders are often extensions of their coaches. But, until salary cap concerns intervened, the roles were often combined

When NBA veteran Tree Rollins got a call from his old friend Brian Hill in the summer of 1993, the wheels started to turn. Hill was the new coach of the Orlando Magic, a team that included a young Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway. Hill wanted Rollins to come in as an assistant to work with O'Neal, specifically. The 7ft 1in Rollins, who had just come off two seasons with the Houston Rockets backing up Hakeem Olajuwon, contemplated the offer and after a few weeks accepted. For Rollins, in his late 30s, it was a great chance to start the second phase of his basketball life. Little did he know, however, what it would soon turn into.

I went to Orlando to be an assistant coach," Rollins tells the Guardian. I would get out and practice with the team. With the big guy, Shaquille, you couldn't stop him. But I could trick him, with my experience, and make him work harder."