Appreciating Juwan Howard’s commitment to Michigan Basketball
It was reported on Sunday that Michigan basketball head coach Juwan Howard rebuffed an opportunity with the Lakers.
Let’s be clear about one thing, if it wasn’t for Michigan basketball and the love Juwan Howard has for the program, he would be an NBA head coach.
Juwan had multiple chances to be an NBA head coach when he accepted the job to coach Michigan basketball. And since he’s had so much success in his first three years on the job, his name surfaces all the time, just like Jim Harbaugh, as a potential candidate, which he did once again after the Lakers came calling.
ESPN story on Michigan's Juwan Howard declining interest in the Lakers' coaching job: https://t.co/8Ig3YwMh9V
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 22, 2022
The difference is that Juwan is always quick to shoot down those rumors. Of course, he’s only been in Ann Arbor for three years, so that makes it easier. He’s got work to do and the commitment to win a national title is real.
It stems from his days as a player. Howard was part of the Fab Five and played on two Michigan basketball teams that were one game short of winning it all, as well as another that reached the Elite 8.
I honestly don’t see Juwan coaching another college program. Michigan just holds a special place in his heart, a place that goes beyond the fact that his sons, Jett and Jace, will play for him next season. That obviously matters but it’s not the only reason he’s staying.
That makes it sounds like he will bolt from Michigan basketball after his sons leave and I just don’t see that being the case. It could happen if the timing all worked out and Michigan won that elusive national title but it’s not a guarantee.
Eventually, Juwan will probably leave Michigan for the NBA, and someday, he should, because he’s good enough to coach at the highest level. He already runs NBA-level stuff and the desire of the league to lure him away will only increase.
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The thing is that Juwan truly loves Michigan. We saw that as a player and when he cried as he was introduced as head coach. That’s not scripted. He’s just real and I don’t see him leaving until he’s achieved what he wants to achieve at Michigan.