One-on-One with Coach Kasib Powell

We sat down with Kasib Powell as he prepared for his second season as Head Coach of the Skyforce. He gave his thoughts on what it means to coach in Sioux Falls, the investment from the HEAT in the Skyforce and more.

What most excites you heading into year two as Head Coach of the Skyforce?

I learned a lot from the first year. Just the opportunity to lead this team again excites me. I have a lot of pride in this opportunity. I am excited to get the season going, to be able to try new things, and be able to get the ball rolling different from last season. We have a year’s worth of experience now. Helping players reach their goals, small and large, is another thing that excites me. At the end of the day, that is what it’s about.

What has been your favorite thing about coaching the Skyforce, in the city you call home?

The support from my family, friends and the city of Sioux Falls is something I don’t take for granted. You get to see a lot of the same faces in the stands, some of them were in the stands when I was playing here. That’s just what we have here in Sioux Falls. The sense of comfort helps a lot, too. There are very few, if many at all, coaches in the G League, or even professionally that get to coach in the city they live in. I just try to soak it all in. We want to give the city a product they can be proud of. 

How have you developed as a coach over the last year?

The beauty in this position is that there are always new ways to develop and learn. I am still learning every single day. Being around guys like Eric Spoelstra, Chris Quinn and Eric Glass in the offseason and preseason really helps. Seeing their philosophies and how they do things is a plus. The whole coaching staff in Miami is great with showing their techniques and what has worked for them. Over the last year I have learned a lot, but I think being able to manage young and veteran players is something that will help heading into year two.

This is your sixth season in the Miami HEAT system. In your eyes how do they continue to invest in the Skyforce organization?

They invest in the Skyforce in every way possible, even though we are halfway across the country. They are passionate about what we do in Sioux Falls. It’s great to know the NBA organization cares this deep about their G League affiliate. We mirror what they do, but we tend to focus more on development. The two go very well together. That investment is shown every day, whether it’s in season, Summer League, or the offseason.

Last season the team had the most NBA Call-Ups in the NBA G League era. How does it feel knowing you had a direct impact on players fulfilling their dreams?

It justifies being a coach, especially in the G League. That’s what we do it for. It takes a lot of hard work to get to that point and it’s very rewarding to see that pay off. Sioux Falls is a place they can showcase their talent and make a name for themselves. Having that record (in the G League era) is a great accomplishment, but it just pushes the staff and I to work harder. We want to have more Call-Ups than we did last year. It raises the bar for this upcoming season.

The Skyforce is known for developing talent that translates to the NBA. How does that continue under your watch?

It’s simple, just to continue to follow the blueprint from those before us and the standard the HEAT has set. We have done a great job and we want to keep helping them in Miami. Continuing the same process and pedigree of attention to detail is how that success laps over. We are passionate about the jobs we have. We care about the players and invest in them on and off the court. It’s also a great credit to the players for trusting the staff and putting the work needed to obtain both their personal and the organization’s goals.