Lester Conner
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Lester Allen Conner (born September 17, 1959, in Memphis, Tennessee) is an assistant coach for the NBA Indiana Pacers[1], and is a former American professional basketball player, who played for numerous NBA teams. He played the point guard position.
After two seasons playing for Los Medanos Junior College and Chabot College, Conner played collegiately at Oregon State University under legendary coach Ralph Miller, and was on the 1980-1981 squad which spent most of the season at #1 in the polls, before losing in the NCAA basketball playoffs. He was drafted in 1982 as the 14th pick overall, by the Golden State Warriors, and played with the Warriors for 4 seasons. He would later play for the Houston Rockets, and serve two stints with both the New Jersey Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks, finishing his career with the Los Angeles Clippers, the Indiana Pacers, and the Los Angeles Lakers. He ended his NBA playing days in 1994.
Conner began his NBA coaching career in 1998 as an assistant to Rick Pitino for the Boston Celtics. He also was twice the assistant coach in Milwaukee for head coach Terry Stotts, leaving after Stotts was fired following the 2006-2007 season.
Conner credits current Indiana Pacers head coach Jim O'Brien for his start in coaching.[2] and has worked under O'Brien on three separate occasions. The first was with the Boston Celtics from 2001-'04. The second was as associate head coach for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2004-'05 season. In June, 2007, Conner moved to Indiana, to once again work for O'Brien and the Pacers.
When his coaching career winds down, Lester aspires to play poker professionally, particularly in tournaments. During frequent visits to the Los Angeles area, he has participated in cash poker games at Hollywood Park Casino.
Conner stresses the importance of being courteous and friendly to fans of the game, and does so by example as well.
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