Boston Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell is probably the most head coach-ready prospect in the NBA right now. However, as it has been written many times before, he is also the most overlooked candidate there is.
Cassell has been an assistant coach since 2009, almost immediately after his playing career was over. He's been helping on the sidelines in four different NBA cities, including his current one in Beantown. During that time, many head coaching vacancies came and went, and Cassell never got a call.
During his recent appearance on The Mark Jackson Show, Cassell talked about chasing that elusive position.
"I just got to find a general manager or a president of a team that believes in me, believes that I can get this done," said Cassell. "I know I can get it done. I'm just trying to figure out, just working on myself every year as a coach, trying to get better. It ain't about the Xs and Os, I think it's just the other little things, who knows what it is."
Is Sam not good during interviews?
It's unclear why Cassell has always been bypassed whenever there is a coaching vacancy in the league. 2003 NBA champion and All the Smoke podcast co-host Stephen Jackson once said that he heard stories that Sam doesn't do well during interviews . But as Stack said, that should be the least of a GM or team president's worries because Sam's resume speaks for itself.
Cassell's name popped in the news once again last summer when the Lakers hired JJ Redick to replace Darvin Ham as head coach. Redick got the job despite not having coaching experience at any level. Despite the latest snub, Sam says he is not deterred.
"But I'm not gonna give up," added the retired guard. "I'm not gonna give up until I get it. That's how I was all my life. I still enjoy coaching the game of basketball. I'll be 55 in November, I'm still having fun with the young guys."
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Celtics to promote Cassell
In June 2023, Cassell joined the Boston Celtics as one of Joe Mazzulla's assistants. Once he got there, he talked about winning Boston's 18th banner. True enough, the Celtics captured the 2024 NBA championship, beating the Dallas Maverick in the 2024 Finals.
After their title conquest, it was reported that the Celtics were going to give Cassell a promotion. It's unclear as to what he will be promoted to. It's certainly not as head coach because Mazzulla is still there and doing a fantastic job with the team. But whatever it is, Sam definitely earned it.
The Celtics head to the 2024-25 season looking to win back-to-back titles. That won't be an easy task. But with Mazzulla at the helm and Cassell having experience winning two championships in a row, Boston is in good hands. It will be up to the players to execute again.
Related: “Motherf****r look at me and say, ‘Where you going on vacation at?’” – Sam Cassell on what Michael Jordan told him before tip-off of Game 3 of their first-round series
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