NBA News: LeBron James’ Longtime Assistant Coach Opts To Stay With Lakers Over Nets

Behind the success of the Los Angeles Lakers lies the depth of their staff, highlighted by assistant coach Phil Handy.

Throughout the years, Handy has been responsible for training the league’s top athletes, including LeBron James.

He worked with the four-time MVP during his second stint with Cleveland that resulted in multiple trips to the finals.

Handy would then move to the Toronto Raptors and be part of the 2019 NBA championship team. Success would be a common theme in the coach’s career as he accepted the offer to serve as one of the assistant coaches of this year’s Lakers squad, per CBS Sports.

The Brooklyn Nets have kept their eyes open for the services of Handy, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.

The Nets have a renewed identity in their coaching staff after two-time MVP Steve Nash was brought on board to lead the Brooklyn squad.

Nash has had experience working with Handy as they recently produced a video on the 49-year-old's YouTube channel three months ago.

With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in the mix, the potential is high for their team in the season to come.

Despite these news developments, Handy shared that he will be staying with Los Angeles in order to bring more success to the team.

"I am a Los Angeles Laker," he said. "What's next for me is to wait for Frank Vogel to pick up the phone and text me or call me and give me what my next directives are. I'm just going to sit back and try to enjoy this championship we earned and, you know, decompress a little bit.

"We work so hard that people think we never take time off and I, myself, have had to learn how to decompress and step away from the game, to where I can stay mentally and physically sharp,” Handy continued.

The coach emphasized that he’ll make the most of his time off and will wait for Vogel’s orders before they start preparing the Lakers roster again for their title defense.

“I'm going to enjoy this time with my friends and family, and I'll be ready for whatever directives coach Vogel has for me next as we prepare for this next upcoming season," Handy stressed.