Dallas Mavericks Assistant Coach Darrell Armstrong was reportedly removed from the staff directory, per The Dallas Morning News. Armstrong, 56, has served as the Mavericks’ Assistant Coach for Player Development since January 26, 2009. Armstrong helped coach the Mavericks to a 2011 NBA Finals win that year, a six-game victory over the Miami Heat in a 2006 NBA Finals rematch. Read on for further details.
Darrell Armstrong Removed from Directory
Former NBA Point Guard Darrell Armstrong enjoyed a 14-year professional basketball career from 1994 to 2008. Armstrong went undrafted at the 1991 NBA Draft out of Fayetteville State University, a public historically Black university in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Armstrong never won an NBA championship but earned the NBA Most Improved Player and NBA Sixth Man of the Year awards in 1999.
Armstrong, one of the longest-tenured members of the Dallas Mavericks coaching staff, was reportedly removed from the staff directory on the Mavericks’ media website. Armstrong’s name and photo remain on mavs.com. It’s unclear if Armstrong was fired, suspended or released, but the Mavericks’ recent move cast doubts on Armstrong’s current status as an assistant coach.
Darrell Armstrong Arrested for Aggravated Assault
14-year NBA veteran Darrell Armstrong was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on February 15. Armstrong allegedly hit his girlfriend with a gun, according to an arrest warrant affidavit from the Dallas Police Department. A hearing to dismiss the case in civil court has been set for August 4, according to Dallas County court records.
All individuals are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The judge stated the Plaintiff has yet to either serve or file a motion for default judgment against the Defendant. However, Armstrong’s arrest came at a tough time just days after the Luka Doncic trade on February 2. Armstrong’s arrest was likely an isolated incident, but increased work for the Mavericks’ public relations team already struggling to rebuild their reputation.
The Mavericks released a statement on February 16. The statement read, “The Dallas Mavericks are aware of an incident involving a member of our staff and are gathering all relevant information surrounding the incident … We take this matter seriously. The employee has been placed on administrative suspension pending the outcome of legal proceedings. … We will refrain from further comment while proceedings are ongoing.”
Final Thoughts
Actions speak louder than words. Darrell Armstrong declined to comment when reached by text message on Friday. The Dallas Mavericks haven’t provided an official update on Armstrong’s employment status since suspending him on February 16. Messages were sent to the Mavericks’ representatives on Friday but weren’t immediately returned.
The Mavericks finished the regular season with a 39-43 record but were eliminated from playoff contention by the Memphis Grizzlies in the second NBA Play-In Tournament game on April 18. Mavericks Assistants, Jared Dudley and Sean Sweeney are expected to be two of the top candidates to fill the Phoenix Suns’ Head Coach vacancy. Mavericks Assistant Coach, Alex Jensen, will become the Utah Utes’ new men’s basketball Head Coach.
