The term “NBA vet” gets thrown around a lot, but Boston Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell defines it. As a player, the former point guard was a three-time All-Star and three-time NBA Champion, playing an impressive 15 seasons in the league.
Cassell saw it all, playing for eight different teams (often in different roles) before moving off the bench and joining the Washington Wizards as an assistant coach in 2008. Cassell has continued to assist the team since then, working with star guards such as John Wall, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Maxey, but despite his experience and helping the Celtics win a championship in 2024, he was never promoted to head coach.
“Hopefully that will happen for me,” Cassell said of becoming a head coach in an interview with Celtics reporter Bobby Krivitsky. “I would love to have the opportunity to coach one of those teams, but the joy I get as a basketball coach is seeing young guys come into the league for the first time and how they progress through life and become good basketball players and become family men and become fathers. That’s the part I love.”
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Last year, Cassell almost got the opportunity he had been working toward. The 56-year-old’s alma mater, Florida State, came calling after longtime head coach Leonard Hamilton resigned. Cassel was reportedly considered a serious candidate, but 35-year-old Luke Loucks got the job.
But just because Cassel has his sights set on the top doesn’t mean he’s unhappy with where he is. The Celtics assistant has done well for Boston and is often praised by Celtics head coach Joe Mazzula. Through it all, the two-time Celtics champion — one ring from his playing days, the other as a coach — still bleeds green.
“The coaching stuff, I’d love to have the opportunity to do it,” Cassell said. “I’m working on it because I still love this. If I didn’t love it at all, I wouldn’t be doing it. I love this. I love what I’m doing. I always have a smile on my face. I’m optimistic. I love being a part of this league, especially being a part of the Boston Celtics.”
Cassell wasn’t the only one smiling on the Celtics this year, as Boston defied preseason expectations with star forward Jayson Tatum healthy. The Celtics are 35-19 overall and will resume play against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco on Thursday night after a welcome All-Star break.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Sam Cassell happy with where he is, but still wants to be a head coach one day
