DALLAS, United States (AFP) — Mario Elie, who won three National Basketball Association titles as a player, will now will try to help the Dallas Mavericks reach that championship level.
Elie was named an assistant coach for the Mavericks on Friday after most recently serving as an assistant for the Golden State Warriors (2004-05) and San Antonio Spurs (2003-04).
"I am very excited to come to this great organization," Elie said. "I look forward to working with (Dallas owner) Mark Cuban and Avery Johnson, who's one of the best coaches in the NBA."
As a player, Elie was a member of the back-to-back champion Houston Rockets in 1993-94 and 1994-95. He also helped the Spurs to their first NBA championship in the lockout-shortened 1998-99 campaign.
An 11-year veteran, Elie averaged 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists with six teams.
He now will join the high-powered Mavericks, who are trying to recover from one of the most shocking upsets in NBA playoff history in May.
Top-seeded Dallas, which finished the regular season with an impressive 67-15 mark, was upset by eighth-seeded Golden State in the opening round of the playoffs.
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