Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott isn’t backing off his stance on Sam Cassell.
When Scott returned to NBA Insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson on #WORDSWITHSCOOP, the conversation circled right back to the same point that turned their previous interview into a viral moment: why the Boston Celtics assistant still hasn’t been given an NBA head coaching job.
Scott made headlines in July 2024 when he said Cassell deserved a head coaching opportunity more than any assistant in the league. He also took a shot at the Los Angeles Lakers’ hire of JJ Redick, pointing out that Cassell had four championship rings while Redick’s only ring was his wedding band. That remark spread quickly across social media and pushed the discussion far beyond basketball circles.
Robinson revisited the issue by noting that Cassell had already won a title in Boston as an assistant under Joe Mazzulla, yet remained in the same role. He asked Scott how frustrating it was to keep seeing Cassell passed over for top jobs.
Scott’s answer came fast: “It is very frustrating, but it’s not just Sam,” he said. From there, he widened the conversation, saying talented assistants in both the NBA and NFL are often overlooked, with Black coaches especially getting left behind while others move up.
Cassell’s résumé makes the case hard to ignore. The Baltimore native won three championships as a player with the Houston Rockets and the Celtics, then started his coaching career in 2009. Since then, he has worked with the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Celtics, where he has been since 2023 and helped Boston win the 2024 title.
Joe Mazzulla even gave Cassell the head coach duties for a preseason game this fall. Still, when the latest round of head coaching openings came around, Cassell was not listed among the reported finalists.
For Scott, this goes well beyond one coach from Baltimore. In his view, it’s about who gets a real shot, who keeps getting asked to prove himself, and who finally gets rewarded for already having done the work.
Cassell has the rings, the experience and the respect. The only thing missing is the job.
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