TORONTO - The Toronto Raptors added some experience to their coaching staff Wednesday, officially naming P.J. Carlesimo an assistant.

The veteran NBA coach, whose hiring was widely reported in the Toronto media earlier in the week, was most recently the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Carlesimo, 61, was fired by Oklahoma City on Nov. 22, 2008 after the Thunder's 1-12 start to the season.

He led the Portland Trailblazers to the first round of the playoffs from 1995 to '97, and then coached Golden State from '97 to 2000. The Warriors failed to make the playoffs all three seasons.

Carlesimo made headlines in '97 when he was choked by Latrell Sprewell during a practice. Sprewell received a 68-game suspension.

Carlesimo joins assistants Alex English, Marc Iavaroni, Micah Nori, Eric Hughes and Alvin Williams.

This will be the second time that Triano and Carlesimo have worked together. Triano was Carlesimo's assistant on the USA Basketball Select Team in 2007 and 2008.

"I got to know P.J. and had the opportunity to watch him work with USA Basketball," Triano said in a release. "He is highly respected within the NBA coaching fraternity. He possesses experience at all levels of the game which will make him a great addition to our coaching staff."

Carlesimo also spent five seasons (2002-2007) as Gregg Popovich's lead assistant with the San Antonio Spurs, winning three NBA titles.

Prior to joining the NBA in 1994, Carlesimo was the head coach at Seton Hall University for 12 seasons.