Friedman\u2019s knack for building relationships continued to pay off, as he was soon offered a video coordinator role with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League after hearing from another mentor, Cody Toppert \u2013 the current head coach of Washington affiliate Capital City Go-Go. Linking with Toppert and a few other league veterans, Friedman saw his career take a notable shift. Being put in a position with plenty of freedom, he took advantage of wearing several hats.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring my first year in the professional game, I remember doing a bunch of different things \u2013 scouts, opponent personnel, helping co-coordinate the offense. You gain more and more confidence at still a young age, I was 25 years old at the time. We had a fantastic year and ended up going to the G League final.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another opportunity alongside Toppert was earned by Friedman in 2017-18, as the pair worked for the then-Northern Arizona Suns, now known as Motor City Cruise. Friedman embraced a bigger role in his duties, running the entire offense for the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The result? A team ranked top three in the league in scoring efficiency and points per game (119.3). Additionally, five call-ups were made for players.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Building up his resume, Friedman made his next move, serving as associate head coach for the Maine Celtics during the 2018-19 campaign. That offseason, in the midst of keeping his pre-draft training active, he received a memorable phone call.<\/p>\n
\u201cCody (Toppert) called to let me know that the Charlotte Hornets were interested in a two-way player development coach,\u201d Friedman said. \u201cThe role involved being connected to assignment players that also play for their G League Team, the Greensboro Swarm. I would go with players to both the NBA and G League, depending on where they were assigned.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe opportunity was on James Borrego\u2019s staff, and he was such a blessing to me because he was very inclusive. He valued my opinion from not only a player development standpoint, but also an offensive philosophy standpoint. So, I started to slowly provide my input on that end and gain more trust. We went through that entire year, saw several guys have success, and then boom\u2026 COVID-19 hits.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pandemic was an unprecedented period for everyone, of course, but nevertheless marked the start of a full-time position for Friedman on the Hornets\u2019 staff as an assistant coach. He spent more time on the offensive side of things than ever before, helping Charlotte lead the NBA in assist percentage for 2021-22, and pushing the limits of creativity.<\/p>\n
Friedman ultimately spent two more years in Buzz City after a staffing change, working under previous head coach Steve Clifford, before reuniting with Toppert in the Capital City Go-Go organization this past 2024-25 season. There, he took on a different role as a defensive coordinator.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt opened my eyes a bit more after spending so much time on offense for a good while. We were a 31-win team in D.C. last year and made the G League Showcase Cup, along with the playoffs. We had a top-five defense and a very successful year.\u201d<\/p>\n
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