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Alabama

Nate Oats, Alabama hires Portland Trailblazers assistant Chris Fleming to staff

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•06/16/25•

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Mar 26, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats during a practice session in preparation for an East Regional semifinal game against the Brigham Young Cougars at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Nate Oats has rounded out his coaching staff for the 2025-2026 season with a massive hire. Current Portland Trailblazers assistant coach Chris Fleming will leave the NBA in favor of Tuscaloosa. Alabama has brought multiple guys from the next level into the program and snagged another one in Fleming.

“We are excited to welcome Chris Fleming to Tuscaloosa and will be a huge addition to our staff and program,” Oats said in a statement. “Chris brings over a decades worth of coaching experience in the NBA and overseas with most notably the German National Team. He is known for being exceptional at player development and brings a modern approach to the game. Not only is Chris a great coach but is also a high character individual who will be a huge asset to our program. We are excited to welcome him and his family to Tuscaloosa.”

This will be the first time Fleming is dipping his toe into the college game. As Oats mentioned, the highest position held by Alabama’s new assistant is head coach of the German National Team. He was then hired by the Denver Nuggets to begin what was a decade-long stint in the NBA.

Fleming’s longest stretch with one team came in Chicago with the Bulls. From the 2020-2021 season, all the way through 2023-2024, Fleming was on Billy Donovan’s staff. Some head coaching experience even came at an interim level when Donovan tested positive for COVID-19 at one point. The Bulls won all five games where Fleming was in charge.

Oats will be hoping Fleming never has to step in as head coach a few games during his time at Alabama. Instead, the goal is to continue on the great success the Crimson Tide have had over the past few seasons.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to be part of Alabama’s great basketball tradition,” Fleming said. “Coach Oats has done an exceptional job implementing an NBA-style system and I really look forward to helping coach and the rest of the staff build for the future.”

On3’s Jame Fletcher has Alabama just inside the top 10 in his latest version of the way-too-early top 25 rankings. Getting Labron Philon back from the NBA Draft was huge for Oats, having a true point guard on the roster. Mix in some other returns, plus quality NCAA transfer portal additions, and Alabama will be right up there with the best in college basketball.