--Former Grizzlies point guard and longtime NBA veteran Damon Stoudamire is making the transition to being a coach.

Stoudamire's experience as a player and great interest in coaching is why new coach Lionel Hollins asked him to return to Memphis in February. Stoudamire last played for San Antonio after he reached a buyout agreement with Memphis during the 2007-08 season.

He considered going to training camp with the Houston Rockets but decided against it. Instead, he became director of player development for Rice University under head coach Ben Braun in December.

"He's very knowledgeable," Hollins said. "He studies the game. He watches a lot of games on television every night. He watches a lot of film, and he's learning the big picture. Having played point guard gives him a head start in those areas.

"The transition is mainly about taking what you know and being able to apply it on the court in a concise way that's understandable to somebody that isn't on your level."

Stoudamire said he's soaking up everything he can.

"I'm just trying to get over that learning curve," Stoudamire said. "I want to learn fast. I want to succeed at this. I'm putting in as much time at this as I did playing the game. I'm trying to work hard because it's about fine-tuning what I did on the court and being able to put it on paper, on the boards and communicate it to players. I'm just trying to take the next step."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Hamed changed the whole complexion of the game offensively and defensively." -- Guard O.J. Mayo on rookie Hamed Hadaddi's 10 points and eight rebounds in the game's last nine minutes Monday.