Brad Stevens is committed to the Boston Celtics
After trading away their All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo to Dallas, the Boston Celtics are official in transition and re-group mode. Now questions point to Marcus Smart for starters and if he’s the one being tasked to lead this new era of Celtics basketball. Boston has developing youth and some trade assets to build with, and from an interview with SB Nation, head coach Brad Stevens isn’t interested in abandoning ship anytime soon:
Before the question had even been formulated, Brad Stevens was shaking his head. No, no, no. He’s not looking to go back to college. This is where he wants to be, coaching the Boston Celtics even as they go through a transformative time in their history and even as Indiana University message boards light up at the thought of bringing a favored son back to the Hoosier state.
“I’ve committed to being here,” Stevens told me before Thursday’s practice at the team’s facility. “I’ve already left a situation once and that was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to choose to do. This is something that as long as they want me to be here, this is what I want to be doing and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. I know it’s all specific to the rumor mills and the discussion of one spot. I think they’ve got a good coach who’s done a helluva job. He doesn’t deserve that speculation.
“I’m the head coach of the Boston Celtics,” Stevens continued. “This is the job. This is where I am. This is what I want to do really well and I’m committed to being as good as I can every single day for the Celtics.”
It sounds like Stevens has embraced this great responsibility of being the head coach of one of the most storied NBA franchises. He came from coaching Butler last season after making a formidable name for himself with multiple NCAA tournament appearances as a young coach.
Stevens is making an impression on this Celtics team if you haven’t noticed. Much like his mantra at Butler, Boston isn’t loaded with individual talent, but they share the ball and when they look their best they are playing strategically and collectively. The Celtics led the league in assists for a phase of the season. It didn’t hurt that they had Rondo chipping in over 10 per game. Still, as the teams evolves and develops, as will Stevens’ reputation as an NBA head coach.
