When a strong partnership emerges on NBA courts, comparisons to other duos often follow. Deron Williams experienced this firsthand when he teamed up with Carlos Boozer for the Utah Jazz.
In an August 2024 podcast appearance, the retired three-time All-Star was asked if he and Carlos ever discussed being compared to others, especially the franchise's greatest duo, John Stockton and Karl Malone. Without hesitation, ‘D-Will’ shared his thoughts on the matter.
“We didn't have to talk about it because the media was always going to talk about it; they always brought up the comparisons, of course…there was never any comparison from our end,” Williams responded while appearing on the ‘Legends of Sports’ podcast.
The rise of Williams and Boozer
Carlos and Deron joined forces after the Utah Jazz had picked the latter third overall in the 2005 NBA Draft. Soon after, 'Booz,' who had been with the team since 2004, flourished alongside the Illinois native. Their powerful offensive partnership made waves around the league, often showcasing pick-and-roll plays. Williams, as the point guard, worked seamlessly with the 6'8" forward.
The dynamic duo played a key role in the Jazz's deep playoff runs, highlighted by their appearance in the Western Conference Finals in 2007. This was actually the franchise's best finish since the legendary days of Stockton and Malone. However, ‘D-Will’ and ‘Booz’ were still quick to downplay any comparisons to those Hall of Famers.
"Me and Booz always shot them (the comparisons) down right away,” remarked Williams. “Those are two legends, two of the greatest of all time. We aspired to be as good as they were.”
An enduring camaraderie
The now 40-year-old noted that their goal was simply “to be D-Will and C-Booz,” and in hindsight, that seems like the right approach. With all due respect, Stockton and Malone are simply unmatched in franchise history and arguably in league history as well.
Their journey started in 1985 when Utah drafted ‘The Mailman,’ followed by Stockton , who was selected 16th overall. Together, they reshaped the team, with John excelling as a point guard and Karl as a dominant big man. Their remarkable accomplishments featured several individual titles, numerous All-Star selections, and guiding the Jazz to the NBA Finals in both 1997 and 1998.
However, as the interviewer noted, Williams and Boozer have something that many other legendary NBA duos lack. Take, for example, the famous partnerships of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal with the Lakers, or Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan with the Bulls. Reports indicate that their relationships soured heavily over time. In contrast, there have been no claims of any similar issues between these two former Jazz teammates, which is quite remarkable in its own right.
Related: Paul Pierce says playing in Brooklyn was a horrible experience: "Before I got there, I looked at Deron as an MVP candidate"
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