Beyond the Game: Milwaukee Bucks Assistant Coach Chris Gilmartin

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The average margin of victory in the NBA is around three points per game, which indicates that teams are wise to seek any advantage they can find to turn losses into wins. The Milwaukee Bucks think they found such an advantage in their own backyard.

When the Bucks and Scott Skiles parted ways earlier this season, Jim Boylan's ascension to interim head coach wasn't the only change on the bench. Longtime scout Chris Gilmartin was promoted to assistant coach.

"It's an absolute blast. You wok for it for so long and obviously you've been doing the same thing for a number of years, and you believe in yourself, so when you get the opportunity, you never know how long it's going to last, and I'm going to enjoy every day of it," Gilmartin said.

Gilmartin has done something or other on and off for the Bucks since 1985. He distinguished himself in the role of advance scout, providing the coaching staff with detailed reports on upcoming opponents.

"It's a tough, tough job and Chris has been doing it for a long time, and he's probably the best in the NBA at it," Boylan said.

That can cut both ways:

"Sometimes you get so good at it, no one wants to take you away from it, so you stifle your own advancement. Chris has certainly put his time in and we're glad to have him on the bench with us because he's been a great help," Boylan said.

Boylan says having an information advantage can lead to a basket or two difference per game, which is why he has Gilmartin sitting right next to him on the bend.

"He put me there for that reason. He made sure to tell me in no uncertain terms that that's exactly what he wants from me," Gilmartin said.

In 1971, the Bucks won their first and to this point, only NBA championship, and Gilmartin was born. He was raised in Milwaukee and attended school in Wisconsin and now he's working the bench for the Bucks.

"The fact that I grew up here in Milwaukee, have basically been raised herein this organization and have the opportunity to represent now as an assistant coach is the best," Gilmartin said.

Now, Gilmartin hopes to help coach the Bucks to a long playoff run and secure himself a long run in his latest role.