Former NBA all-star takes over as head coach of Raptors 905

TORONTO – Former NBA all-star Jerry Stackhouse is taking the helm of the Toronto Raptors’ minor league team.

The Raptors announced Friday that he has been appointed the new head coach of Raptors 905, the NBA club’s D-League affiliate.

Stackhouse served as an assistant coach with the Raptors last season.

He succeeds Jesse Mermuys, who was named to the Los Angeles Lakers coaching staff.

Stackhouse played 18 seasons in the NBA, averaging 16.9 points in 970 regular-season games. He reached the NBA final in 2006 with Dallas.

“The basketball pedigree that he brings to the 905 bench is as good as it gets in the D-League,” Raptors 905 general manager Dan Tolzman said in a release Friday. “We believe that his experience as a successful NBA player along with his year spent learning under (head coach Dwane Casey) on the Raptors staff will go a long way in helping teach the young players within our system what it takes to thrive at the next level.”

Stackhouse said he’s ready for the challenge.

“I appreciate the confidence (Raptors president Masai Ujiri) and Dan have shown in me to continue the development of our younger players,” said Stackhouse.

Raptors 905 finished third in the Eastern Conference last season with a 23-27 record.