The Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball program 2024 season is underway as this is the second week that college basketball DI programs are permitted to practice. Head coach Nate Oats recently told CBS Sports College basketball analyst Jon Rothstein on the College Hoops Podcast that his staff is at various NBA training camp sites to learn to help the Crimson Tide, who are coming off their first Final Four appearance.
The NBA intrigues me for sure. Training camps open up this week in the NBA, and our staff is going to split up around the country and learn different concepts and bring them back. But I’ve got three daughters. I think the college coaching lifestyle makes it more conducive to being a good father. You’re not on the road like you are all the time in the NBA. I’m happy where I am right now. We love it at Alabama. I’m going to continue to study the NBA, but we love it here right now.”
SEC Coach Flirting With Moving Onto NBA
So, if an NBA team comes calling, would he answer? It sounds like the 50-year-old would consider moving on. However, it is not likely in the immediate future. But as he said, he loves Alabama right now, and for good reason.
Oats became one of the highest-paid coaches this spring, and he returns one of the most talented teams in the country. This spring, Oats signed a six-year, $30-million extension that will pay him $5 million in the first year and grow to $7.55 million in the final year. He has a relatively young family: His oldest daughter, Lexie (20), is a student at Alabama. His middle daughter, Jocie, is just 15, and Brielle is the youngest.
Oats has done a fabulous job at Alabama and runs an NBA-style system that relies heavily on 3-pointers and shots at the rim. He has compiled a 117-54 record and five straight winning seasons with the Crimson Tide. He has led the Tide to an NCAA Tournament appearance in each of the last four seasons and four conference titles (two regular-season and conference tournament crowns).
Additionally, Oats has done a fantastic job developing NBA talent. Since taking over the Crimson Tide before the 2019-20 season, seven players have gone on to play in the NBA, including six drafted. Four drafted players were first-rounders, headlined by Brandon Miller and Noah Clowney.
Crimson Tide Have High Expectations in 2024-25
Alabama enters the season as a consensus top-5 preseason team as the Tide returns five key players, including three starters, from a team that went 25-12 but were SEC regular season and tournament champions. 2023-24 All-SEC performer Mark Sears leads the returnees after testing the NBA waters.
Oats also brought an eight-man recruiting class, a consensus top 2 or 3-rated class. The class includes four transfers led by Grad transfers Cliff Omoruyi and Chris Youngblood.
“We’ve got a special team, and we know it,” Oats said during an appearance on the Crimson Tide Sports Network before the start of official practice. “We’ve got the returners like [Latrell Wrightsell, Jr.], who’s been great, that are back and added some really good transfers to help that got experience. Then, we got some super-talented freshmen. They’ve all got great attitudes. They’ve all been working their tails off. I wouldn’t miss anything you could possibly be at this season because it’s going to be a special season.”
Last Word
While Oats has led Alabama to new heights, he should remain in college basketball, as it is a totally different animal from the NBA. A handful of successful college coaches have failed miserably in the pros, such as John Calipari, John Beilein, Mike Montgomery, and Rick Pitino.
