On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we welcome Lloyd Pierce, Assistant Coach for the Indiana Pacers. Pierce brings a wealth of experience from nearly two decades in the NBA coaching ranks. He began his professional coaching journey with Santa Clara and then the Cleveland Cavaliers before joining the Golden State Warriors as a player development coach. He later spent five years with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he helped lay the foundation for their rise into one of the Eastern Conference’s top contenders. Pierce then earned the head coaching position with the Atlanta Hawks, where he guided a young roster and gained valuable leadership experience. After Atlanta, he joined the Indiana Pacers staff, bringing his experience and steady presence to Rick Carlisle’s bench. Known for his player development work and ability to connect with athletes, Pierce has had a hand in shaping the careers of multiple NBA stars. His impact extends beyond the court as he has been a strong voice on issues of leadership and community engagement throughout his career. In this episode we discuss what lessons he learned from his first head coaching experience in the NBA, how going from a head coach to an assistant changed his perspective as a coach and a breakdown of game planning for that next opponent.