Alabama has reached a verbal agreement with former NBA coach Avery Johnson to coach men’s basketball, according to ESPN reports.

Johnson, a New Orleans native, played for 16 years in the NBA. He was a point guard on the 1999 San Antonio Spurs championship team. He went on to coach the Dallas Mavericks from 2005 to 2008, leading the team to an NBA Finals appearance in 2006. The Mavericks lost to the Heat in six games. That year he was named the NBA coach of the year. Dallas reached 60 wins twice while he coached there.

From 2010 to 2012, he coached the Brooklyn Nets, formerly the New Jersey Nets. Since then, he has worked as an ESPN analyst.

His son, Avery Johnson, Jr., is currently a freshman guard at Texas A&M.

Alabama has been without a coach since March 15 after Anthony Grant was fired. Grant spent six seasons at Alabama and compiled a 117-85 record.

John Brannen was named the interim head coach and led the Crimson Tide to two games into the National Invitation Tournament. Alabama lost in the second round 73-66 at Miami.

The Crimson White reached out to Alabama Athletics but has not received a response.