Evan Turner is reportedly moving from playing in the NBA to coaching in the NBA.
According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the former Ohio State star is finalizing a deal to become an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics.
10-year NBA veteran Evan Turner is finalizing a deal to join the Boston Celtics as an assistant coach, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Turner is expected to focus on player development.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 30, 2020
Turner has spent the last 10 years playing in the NBA, most recently with the Atlanta Hawks, after he was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft. He appeared in just 19 games for the Hawks last season, averaging 3.3 points per game and 13.2 minutes per game, all career-lows.
Drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers out of Ohio State, Turner previously played for the Celtics from 2014-16 in between stints with the Indiana Pacers and Portland Trail Blazers. Over his NBA career as a whole, Turner averaged 9.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
Turner cemented his place in Ohio State lore when he had one of the greatest individual seasons in school history in 2009-10, earning national player of the year and consensus All-American honors. His No. 21 jersey was retired by Ohio State in 2016.
While there had been no indication prior to Monday that Turner was ready to conclude his playing career, he battled nagging injuries last season, and gained some informal coaching experience over the past few years as a coach for the Ohio State alumni team Carmen's Crew in The Basketball Tournament.
