P.J. Carlesimo is a seasoned American basketball coach with a long and varied career spanning college and professional levels. Best known for his tenures in the NBA, he served as head coach for the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, and Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder. While he never secured an NBA championship as a head coach, Carlesimo is respected for his strategic mind and player development skills. He also had a successful college coaching career, leading Seton Hall University to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, including a championship game appearance in 1989. His career is also marked by a notorious incident in 1997 when Warriors player Latrell Sprewell choked him during a practice.
