Posted: Jan 21, 2022
Jonah Herscu is an Assistant Coach for the Sacramento Kings
What do you enjoy most about your career?
It is three things and where they all meet. Number one is being part of a team, both as a full team and as a coaching staff, which is a team within itself. Number two is competition. Constantly pushing ourselves individually and as a team to be better through competing through scrimmages and in our games. Number three is the strategy. Drawing up plays, thinking about counters to those plays, how teams are going to try and stop us. The chess match that the game is. Touching all three of these things every day is what I enjoy the most about my career.
What do you find the most challenging about your career?
I miss a lot. My family is from Massachusetts and I am in Sacramento, so from holidays to birthdays, I miss a lot. However, I am fortunate to work year-round. In the NBA, there is never truly an offseason, with the draft season, summer league, and preparations for the season.
What is the most memorable moment you have had during your career?
I really remember the relationships I have built throughout my career, and the career-altering moments when I received certain phone calls to get the next job. However, I tend to look forward to my career, especially as a coach. My mom told me that you’ve never arrived, you’re always coming, and I try to think about that a lot. If what you did yesterday seems big, you haven’t done much today.
Can you please outline a day in the life of your job on both a game day and non-game day?
Practice Day:
6am to 7am - Run
7am to 9am - Video. I am watching games from last night, teams we are going to play
9am to 11am - Coaches meeting
11am to 1pm - Practice
1pm to 2pm - Post-practice coaches meeting
3pm to 4pm - Sauna, take care of myself
4pm - 11pm - Watching games that night
Game Day (Home Game):
6am to 7am - Run
7am to 9am - Video
10am to 11am - Shootaround, get loose
12pm to 1pm - Lunch
1pm to 3pm - Sauna, take care of myself, take a nap
4pm to 5pm - Meet as a staff, plan game strategies
5pm to 11pm - Game-time, and do it again tomorrow