“Looking to add Tatum in the portal” “Side missions” - College hoops world hilariously reacts as Nate Oats attends the Celtics vs. Mavericks matchup

The Alabama Crimson Tide head coach, Nate Oats, was present as the Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks to lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy yesterday night. A snapshot from the live telecast from the initial minutes of the game showed Oats enjoying Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

Former Alabama player JD Davison, who played under Oats, won his first ring with the Celtics.

College hoops fans had some hilarious reactions on X after seeing Oats.

"He’s looking to add Tatum in the portal," a fan wrote while tipping their hat to Oats' stacked Crimson Tide roster for the coming season.

"I think @nate_oats is actually at the NBA Finals trying to fill those last two non-conference games for @AlabamaMBB with the Celtics and Mavericks," another fan quipped.

"Nate Oats side mission," a fan wrote.

As few fans insinuated Oats' brilliance, others created balance balance with their witty remarks:

"Bro wants to know what a championship atmosphere is like since he’ll never coach to one," a fan said.

"Not representing the tide apparel," another fan wrote.

"Wearing Blue… 🤣☘️," another fan chimed in

Could Nate Oats be eyeing a move to the big league?

Dan Hurley was recently pursued by the Los Angeles Lakers for their vacant coaching position, which the UConn coach declined. Even though Nate Oats has no prior NBA coaching experience, he is one of the top coaches in the collegiate circuit.

Oats has transformed Alabama into an elite offensive force. The Crimson Tide was the number one overall seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2023. Last year, they had the best offense (90.1 ppg) and made their first-ever trip to the Final Four.

Moreover, Oats has also worked wonders when it comes to player development. Both Brandon Miller and Noah Clowney were first-rounders in the 2023 NBA draft.

All the tangibles hint that Oats is ready to make the jump. However, the only thing restricting teams from pursuing him is his hefty buyout. To secure Nate Oats’ services within the next two years, a team will need to cash out $18 million, 154.4% more than what the Lakers offered to Hurley on an annual basis.

Moreover, when Oats was rumored to be Kentucky’s top coaching candidate after John Calipari’s exit, the Alabama coach said he wanted to spearhead the Crimson Tide to its first-ever national title.