Lionel Hollins

Lionel Hollins

Lionel Eugene Hollins (born October 19, 1953) is a retired American professional basketball player and the current head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association.

During his ten-year NBA career playing as a point guard he played for five teams, averaging 11.6 points and 4.5 assists per game.

Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the sixth pick of the 1975 NBA Draft out of Arizona State University, Hollins was bestowed All-Rookie first team honors that season, averaging 10.8 points in 78 games for the Blazers. Prior to his two seasons at Arizona State, he played two years at Dixie Community College in St. George, Utah.

He was a member of Portland's 1976–77 National Basketball Association championship team, and made his only All-Star Game appearance one year later. He was a member of the NBA All-Defensive team twice, in 1978 and 1979.

Prior to his head coaching career, Hollins served as an assistant coach at Arizona State in the 1985–86 season and again in the 1987–88 season. He then served as an assistant for the Phoenix Suns under head coaches Cotton Fitzsimmons and Paul Westphal from 1988 to 1995.

Hollins compiled a record of 18–42 as the interim coach of the Vancouver Grizzlies during the 1999–2000 NBA season.

On April 18, 2007, the Portland Trail Blazers retired his #14 jersey.

On May 14, 2008, Hollins was hired as one of Milwaukee Bucks head coach Scott Skiles's assistants.

Hollins's son, Austin Hollins, is playing for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team.