Corey Gaines facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 1, 1965 Los Angeles, California |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | Saint Bernard (Playa del Rey, California) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
|
| NBA Draft | 1988 / Round: 3 / Pick: 65th overall |
| Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics | |
| Pro career | 1988–2004 |
| Coaching career | 2003–present |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1988–1989 | Quad City Thunder |
| 1989 | New Jersey Nets |
| 1989 | Calgary 88's |
| 1989–1990 | Omaha Racers |
| 1990 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1990 | Omaha Racers |
| 1990 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1990–1991 | Yakima Sun Kings |
| 1991–1992 | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| 1992 | Montreal Dragons |
| 1992–1993 | Yakima Sun Kings |
| 1993 | La Crosse Catbirds |
| 1993–1994 | New York Knicks |
| 1994–1995 | Scavolini Pesaro |
| 1995 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1995–1996 | Galatasaray |
| 1996 | Mash J. Verona |
| 1996–1997 | Hapoel Eilat |
| 1997–1998 | Japan Energy Griffins |
| 1999–2000 | Maccabi Rishon LeZion |
| 2000–2003 | Maccabi Haifa |
| 2003–2004 | Long Beach Jam |
| As coach: | |
| 2003–2004 | Long Beach Jam (assistant) |
| 2005 | Long Beach Jam |
| 2006–2007 | Phoenix Mercury (assistant) |
| 2007–2013 | Phoenix Mercury |
| 2013 | Phoenix Suns (assistant) |
| 2015–2016 | Phoenix Suns (assistant) |
| 2016–2018 | New York Knicks (assistant) |
| 2019–2021 | Washington Wizards (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As coach:
|
|
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 248 (3.1 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 69 (0.9 rpg) |
| Assists | 247 (3.1 apg) |
Corey Yasuto Gaines (born June 1, 1965) is an American basketball coach and a former player. He played for five seasons in the NBA. He was also a four-time top player for assists in the Israeli Basketball Premier League. Later, he became the head coach for the Phoenix Mercury, a team in the WNBA.
Contents
Corey Gaines' Basketball Journey
Playing in the NBA and Beyond
Corey Gaines was chosen by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1988 NBA draft. This means he was picked by a professional team to join their league. He was a guard, standing 6 feet 3 inches tall. Corey played for four different NBA teams during his career. These teams included the New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, and New York Knicks.
During his time in the NBA, Corey played in 80 games and scored a total of 248 points. Besides the NBA, he also played for many teams in the CBA. This was another professional basketball league.
Corey also played basketball in other countries. He played in Japan and Israel in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was especially good at passing the ball. He led the Israeli Premier League in assists four times. His last team as a player was the Long Beach Jam in the ABA. His team won the ABA Championship in their first season.
Becoming a Coach
After winning the ABA Championship, Corey Gaines stopped playing and started coaching. He began as an assistant coach for the Long Beach Jam. Later, he became the head coach for the team.
In 2006, Corey became an assistant coach for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA. By November 2007, he was named the head coach of the team. He used a similar playing style to his former college coach. In 2009, Corey led the Phoenix Mercury to win their second WNBA championship! Under his coaching, star player Diana Taurasi had an amazing year. She won the regular season scoring title, the WNBA MVP Award, the WNBA Championship, and the WNBA Finals MVP Award all in the same season.
In 2011, Corey Gaines was also promoted to general manager for the Mercury. This meant he helped manage the team's players and overall strategy. He left his roles with the Mercury in 2013.
Coaching in the NBA and Internationally
Corey Gaines then moved on to coach in the NBA. He joined the Phoenix Suns as a player development coach. This role helps players improve their skills. He was also an assistant head coach for a short time in 2013. He continued to work for the Suns, helping players develop.
In 2015, he became a full-time assistant coach for the Suns. After that, he reunited with a former coach to become an assistant coach for the New York Knicks. He also worked as a coaching consultant for the Detroit Pistons. Before the 2019-20 season, he became an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards.
Corey Gaines has also coached on the international stage. He was a coach for the Japan men's national basketball team. He helped them at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2024 Summer Olympics. In 2025, it was reported that he might become the head coach for the Japan women's national basketball team.
About Corey's Family
Corey Gaines has a diverse background. His father is African-American, and his mother is of Japanese descent.
See also
In Spanish: Corey Gaines para niños
