The NBA coaching carousel in the past months ended with Sam Cassell still without the opportunity to call the shots as a team’s head coach. A look at his resume, which shows four championships (three as a player and one as an assistant coach), should have given him a solid case to achieve his dream finally. But that isn’t the case.
The idea that teams are overlooking Cassell has had plenty of people sounding off on the snub. One of those who recently offered his two cents on the matter is Baltimore mayor Brandon Scott, slighting Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick in the process.
“Nobody has the record, not as a player, as an assistant coach, all these years,” Scott told Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. “Tell me what assistant coach in the NBA deserves a shot at being a head coach than Sam Cassell. … He got four rings — four. JJ has one ring, and that’s one with his wife.”
The Celtics will elevate Sam Cassell on the bench, per @TheSteinLine.
He’d been listed as a candidate for other staffs, but this would keep him in Boston barring a head coaching offer. pic.twitter.com/UofdiiPcm4
— Boston Sports Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) June 22, 2024
Staying in Boston
Does Cassell deserve to helm a team as the top dog instead of as an assistant, which he has been since 2009? Probably so. Players love him, and the retired point guard has earned the praise of various legends, including Shaquille O’Neal, who also recently expressed shock that “a guy with no experience” like Redick got the nod in Los Angeles.
After retiring from playing in 2009, the former All-Star immediately got a job as an assistant. He joined Flip Saunders’ staff with the Washington Wizards, where he helped evolve John Wall into one of the league’s premier point guards of his generation.
Over the years, he has become a coveted assistant and assisted in the development of several other stars, including Bradley Beal, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Tyrese Maxey.
Cassell eventually found his way to the Boston Celtics’ sidelines in the 2023 offseason. He was key to the franchise’s title run last season and secured a well-deserved promotion.
So, while he has to bide his time for at least one more year before becoming a head coach, “Sam I Am” is in a favorable situation, as the Celtics are heavy favorites to repeat as champs.
Will the Lakers regret their decision?
One of the questions that will be answered at the end of the 2024-25 campaign is whether Los Angeles will regret passing up the chance to steal Cassell from Boston to hire LeBron James’ former podcast cohost.
To be fair to the retired sharpshooter, he has proven to be one of the best basketball minds in the Association. He also appears to have the ability to establish good working relationships with players. On the other hand, the same can be said about Cassell.
Perhaps the longtime assistant coach can break the hearts of the Lakers faithful by helping lead the Celtics to the title again and giving the franchise two more championship banners over its bitter rival.