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Alabama Coach Nate Oats Addresses NBA Interest
Oats says he's focused on winning at Alabama, not jumping to the NBA
Feb. 25, 2026 at 4:49pm
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Alabama head coach Nate Oats has once again addressed the possibility of leaving Tuscaloosa for the NBA, saying he's focused on continuing to win at the college level and that the NBA's tough travel schedule may not be conducive to raising his young family. Oats has led Alabama to a Final Four and Elite Eight in back-to-back seasons and is known for his NBA-style offensive system that emphasizes three-pointers and layups.
Why it matters
Oats' name has frequently come up as a potential NBA coaching candidate given Alabama's recent success and his innovative offensive approach. However, Oats seems committed to staying at Alabama for now, citing the program's 'golden generation' and his desire to win a national championship with the Crimson Tide.
The details
Oats admitted there are still a lot of boxes to check at Alabama before he would consider jumping to the NBA. He also cited the tough travel schedule of the NBA and how it would relate to raising his three young daughters as a factor in his decision-making process. Oats praised the approach of Brad Stevens, who left Butler for the NBA, as an example of how difficult that transition can be.
- Alabama has four regular season games remaining before turning attention to postseason play.
- Oats made these comments on Wednesday via SiriusXM Radio.
The players
Nate Oats
The head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team, who has led the program to a Final Four and Elite Eight in back-to-back seasons.
Brad Stevens
The former head coach of Butler University who left the college ranks to become the head coach of the Boston Celtics in the NBA.
What they’re saying
“We would have to win an awful lot of games here for me to make that jump. Probably the one who's done it best most recently is Brad Stevens, and man, he went to a national championship at Butler.”
— Nate Oats, Head Coach, Alabama Crimson Tide
“I've got to focus on winning a lot of games here. I love it here. I've got two young daughters... I'm not sure how conducive the NBA is to raising a family.”
— Nate Oats, Head Coach, Alabama Crimson Tide
What’s next
Oats and the Crimson Tide will look to continue their strong season and make another deep NCAA Tournament run in the coming weeks.
The takeaway
Despite his success and innovative coaching style drawing NBA interest, Nate Oats appears committed to staying at Alabama for now, citing his desire to win a national championship with the Crimson Tide and the challenges of the NBA's travel schedule for raising a young family.
