Guys that have played for him the NBA praise Brad Stevens as a coach, publicly and privately. Jared Dudley talked about it, saying that’s a coach he and a lot of guys would want to play for someday.
You can add David Lee to the list.
Lee was professional about it last season when he lost his starting role and was marginalized within the Golden State Warriors’ rotations (although he did play a key role in the lineups that won them the title over Cleveland). Lee and the Warriors agreed to a trade, and he was sent East to Boston (which also has a loaded front court, but that’s a different discussion). Look at what Lee told Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe.
David Lee says a Brad Stevens practice very similar to Steve Kerr and is impressed by detail
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) September 26, 2015
Stevens had the Celtics buying into his offense and playing 26-17 ball over the final two months of last season, enough to jump up into the seven seed and make the playoffs. This is becoming his team.
Boston seems to have found a coach that can be a long-term part of rebuilding this team back up to championship levels.
Now they just need to give him the players that can do that.
