At five-foot-five, Earl Boykins is the second-shortest player in NBA history, standing just two inches taller than Muggsy Bogues.

I’ve been a Denver Nuggets fan for as long as I can remember, and Boykins was one of my favorite players during his time with the Nuggets from 2003 to 2007.

Boykins, 37, is returning to Colorado, but this time as a coach, and I couldn’t be more excited.

This last week he accepted the head coaching job for the boys’ basketball team at Douglas County High School in Castle Rock. For a team that finished last season with a record of 3-20, Boykins is just who they need—someone to boost their confidence and show them how important it is not to give up.

Boykins knows all about not giving up. Because of his height (or lack thereof) he went undrafted despite averaging 25.7 points as a senior at Eastern Michigan University. He played in the Continental Basketball Association before the NBA noticed him. He eventually signed with the New Jersey Nets, one of 10 teams he’d end up playing with during his 13-year career.

NBA players can make the best coaches for young kids because they already know the hard work it takes to make it to the professional level, and having someone like that to look up to gives kids something to strive for. Obviously not every NBA player should coach, however. We don’t want Dennis Rodman teaching and being a role model for children, but there are some players out there that are perfect for the job.

Boykins is one of those perfect players. As a point guard, he has a great sense of the game and was a leader on the court. he knows what plays to call and where everyone should be on the court. Overall, he has a high basketball IQ. Last fall he started the Boykins Basketball Academy for boys and girls in seventh and eighth grade in Denver, so he’s used to teaching kids the fundamentals of basketball as well as the hard work necessary to be an athlete.

Of course, there are always concerns.

The biggest challenge will be dealing with diehard sports fans. Boykins was pretty popular when he played for Denver, so naturally some people would love to meet him, get his autograph, etc. Hopefully these people don’t show up at the boys’ practices and games to do just that. It would be disrespectful not only to Boykins, but also to the players and parents.

The other concern is having exceedingly high expectations. Some people are automatically going to assume that the team is magically going to be amazing just because the coach was an NBA player. That is just not realistic. It’s not like his talent is automatically transferred to the team. They have to learn the fundamentals and how to play as a team, which is why the coach is important, but that takes time.

Overall, I’m going to be keeping my eye on the Douglas County High School basketball team. I’m curious and excited to see how their upcoming season compares to last. I hope Boykins, who helped lead the Nuggets to the playoffs after winning only 17 games the previous season, can help turn around his new team as well.

almahan@mavs.coloradomesa.edu