Sam Cassell facts for kids
.jpg)
Cassell in 2013
|
|
| Boston Celtics | |
|---|---|
| Assistant coach | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | November 18, 1969 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| High school |
|
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
|
| NBA Draft | 1993 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24th overall |
| Selected by the Houston Rockets | |
| Pro career | 1993–2009 |
| Coaching career | 2009–present |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1993–1996 | Houston Rockets |
| 1996 | Phoenix Suns |
| 1996–1997 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 1997–1999 | New Jersey Nets |
| 1999–2003 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2003–2005 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2005–2008 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2008 | Boston Celtics |
| As coach: | |
| 2008–2014 | Washington Wizards (assistant) |
| 2014–2020 | Los Angeles Clippers (assistant) |
| 2020–2023 | Philadelphia 76ers (assistant) |
| 2023–present | Boston Celtics (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As assistant coach:
|
|
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 15,635 (15.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 3,221 (3.2 rpg) |
| Assists | 5,939 (6.0 apg) |
Samuel James Cassell Sr. (born November 18, 1969) is an American professional basketball coach and a former point guard player. He is currently an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Sam Cassell was chosen as the 24th player in the 1993 NBA draft after playing for Florida State. He played for eight different teams during his 15-year career. He was picked for the NBA All-Star Game and the All-NBA Team once, both in the 2003–04 season.
In his first two seasons, he helped the Houston Rockets win two championships in a row, in 1994 and 1995. He won a third championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008, which was his last season as a player. He also helped the Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves reach the Conference Finals in 2001 and 2004. The 2004 appearance was the Timberwolves' first time ever reaching that stage. He also helped the Los Angeles Clippers win their first playoff series in 2006. Sam Cassell was known for his mid-range jump shot and often made important shots late in games to help his team win.
Contents
Sam Cassell's College Journey
After finishing high school at Paul Laurence Dunbar Community High School in Baltimore, Maryland, Sam Cassell spent a year at Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, Maine. He then started his college basketball career at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas. He was known there for scoring a lot of points.
He then moved to Florida State University in Tallahassee for his third and fourth years of college. In his final year, 1992–93, he averaged 18.3 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game. He also led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in steals.
Sam Cassell and his teammate Bob Sura were a powerful duo, scoring and rebounding more than almost any other backcourt in the country. Their team, the 1992–93 Seminoles, finished with a great record of 25 wins and 10 losses. They made it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to the University of Kentucky's Wildcats.
On February 14, 2008, Florida State honored Sam Cassell by retiring his jersey number. This means no other player on the team will wear his number 10 again.
Sam Cassell's NBA Playing Days
Winning Championships with the Houston Rockets
The 1993 NBA draft saw Sam Cassell picked 24th overall by the Houston Rockets. He mostly played as a backup to Kenny Smith. However, he quickly became known for making "clutch" shots, meaning he was good at scoring in important moments. He was often on the court during the final quarter of close games.
Sam was a key player during the Rockets' playoff run in his first year. He scored 22 points and had seven assists in a crucial Game 7 win against the Phoenix Suns. He also scored 7 points in the last 32 seconds of a close game in the 1994 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. The Rockets went on to win the championship in seven games.
In his second year, Sam Cassell played in all 82 games, showing his growing importance. He helped the Rockets reach the NBA Finals for the second year in a row. In Game 2 of the Finals against the Orlando Magic, Sam scored 31 points. The Rockets swept the Magic, winning the series 4-0. This gave Sam Cassell his second championship in just two years in the league.
In his third season, the Rockets were swept out of the playoffs by the Seattle SuperSonics. Sam's playing time and scoring increased, but he missed 21 games due to injuries.
Moving to Other Teams
After the 1995–96 season, Sam Cassell was traded to the Phoenix Suns. He played 22 games there before being traded again to the Dallas Mavericks in December 1996. He played 16 games for the Mavericks.
Then, in February 1997, he was traded a third time in the same season to the New Jersey Nets. This was a busy year for Sam, playing for three different teams!
Sam decided to stay with the Nets after that season. He formed a strong backcourt with Kerry Kittles. Sam averaged 19.6 points, 8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. He helped lead the Nets to the playoffs for the first time in four years. However, they were swept by Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the first round.
Success with the Milwaukee Bucks
On March 11, 1999, Sam Cassell was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. There, he joined Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson to form a powerful trio of players. In his first full season with the Bucks, he led all scorers with 35 points and 11 assists in a win against the Houston Rockets.
On March 3, 2001, he scored his career-high of 40 points against the Chicago Bulls. That season, the Bucks made a deep playoff run. They defeated the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets. They almost reached the Finals, but lost in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Philadelphia 76ers.
During the 2002–03 season, Sam Cassell scored his 10,000th career point. On December 9, 2002, he had one of his best games, getting a triple-double with 39 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a double overtime win.
In 2008, Sam Cassell was honored as one of the 20 greatest players in Milwaukee Bucks history.
Leading the Minnesota Timberwolves
After four seasons with the Bucks, Sam Cassell was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2003. He had his most successful individual season that year. He averaged 19.8 points, 7.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team and was voted into the 2004 NBA All-Star Game.
Sam Cassell, Latrell Sprewell, and Kevin Garnett formed what many considered the best trio in the NBA that season. They helped the Timberwolves achieve their best record ever, 58 wins and 24 losses, and earned the top spot in the Western Conference.
Sam made a strong playoff debut with the Timberwolves, scoring a team playoff record of 40 points in a first-round win against the Denver Nuggets. The Timberwolves won that series. They then faced the Sacramento Kings, and Sam again scored 40 points in the first game of that series. His clutch plays helped the Timberwolves win in seven games. However, Sam got a back injury that limited him in the Western Conference Finals against the Lakers, which the Lakers won.
Time with the Los Angeles Clippers
After the 2004–05 season, Sam Cassell was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. He helped lead the Clippers to their most successful season at that time, with a record of 47 wins and 35 losses. This was their best record since the team moved to California in 1978.
In the first round of the playoffs, they beat the Denver Nuggets. They then lost to the Phoenix Suns in seven games in the Conference Semifinals. This was the only year the Clippers won a playoff series between their move to California in 1978 and Chris Paul joining the team in 2011.
Sam Cassell struggled with injuries during the 2006–07 season, and the Clippers missed the playoffs. In February 2008, Sam and the Clippers agreed to end his contract early.
Winning Another Title with the Boston Celtics
.jpg)
On March 4, 2008, Sam Cassell officially signed with the Boston Celtics. In Boston, he reunited with former teammates Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.
On March 17, 2008, Sam had a great game against the San Antonio Spurs. He helped the team come back from being 22 points behind to win by 2 points, scoring 17 points and making an important shot late in the game.
Sam Cassell, along with Eddie House, James Posey, P.J. Brown, and Leon Powe, formed what was considered one of the best benches in the NBA that season. They helped the Celtics finish with the best record in the NBA, 66 wins and 16 losses. The Celtics then went on to the NBA Finals. The Celtics defeated the Lakers 4–2, with the Celtics' bench players outscoring the Lakers' bench in five of the six games. This win gave Sam Cassell his third championship. This was also the last game he played in his career.
During the 2008–09 season, Sam Cassell acted as an unofficial assistant coach for Doc Rivers, the head coach. He did not play in any games that season. In May 2009, he announced his retirement from playing basketball.
Sam Cassell: From Player to Coach
Coaching the Washington Wizards
On May 21, 2009, Sam Cassell became an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards. He joined Flip Saunders, who had been his coach in Minnesota. John Wall, who was drafted first by the Wizards in 2010, has said that Sam Cassell helped him become one of the NBA's top point guards and a leader. In 2014, the Wizards won their first playoff series since 2005.
Coaching the Los Angeles Clippers
After five seasons with the Wizards, Sam Cassell was hired by the Los Angeles Clippers on September 29, 2014. He joined Doc Rivers' coaching staff as an assistant coach.
Coaching the Philadelphia 76ers
On November 9, 2020, the Philadelphia 76ers hired Sam Cassell as an assistant coach. He worked under Doc Rivers again.
Coaching the Boston Celtics
On June 4, 2023, the Boston Celtics hired Sam Cassell as an assistant coach under Joe Mazzulla. In 2024, Sam Cassell won his fourth NBA championship when the Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in 5 games in the 2024 NBA Finals. This was Sam Cassell's first championship as a coach.
Sam Cassell in Media
Sam Cassell appeared on TNT's NBA Fundamentals series. In this show, basketball players explain different parts of the game. Sam was chosen to talk about the "mid-range game." This means shooting from areas like around the free throw line, the paint, and the sides of the court. In his segment, Sam explained how to play with your back to the basket against other guards, how to shoot pull-up jump shots, and how to make buzzer beaters (shots made just as time runs out).
Personal Life
Sam Cassell's son, Sam Cassell Jr., played college basketball for Iona College and the University of Connecticut. In 2017, Sam Cassell Jr. played for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Summer League.
NBA Career Statistics
Here are some of Sam Cassell's statistics from his time playing in the NBA.
Regular Season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94† | Houston | 66 | 6 | 17.0 | .418 | .295 | .841 | 2.0 | 2.9 | .9 | .1 | 6.7 |
| 1994–95† | Houston | 82* | 1 | 23.0 | .427 | .330 | .843 | 2.6 | 4.9 | 1.1 | .2 | 9.5 |
| 1995–96 | Houston | 61 | 0 | 27.6 | .439 | .348 | .825 | 3.1 | 4.6 | .9 | .1 | 14.5 |
| 1996–97 | Phoenix | 22 | 9 | 24.5 | .415 | .306 | .855 | 2.3 | 4.5 | 1.0 | .3 | 14.8 |
| Dallas | 16 | 13 | 24.9 | .424 | .306 | .840 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 1.1 | .4 | 12.3 | |
| New Jersey | 23 | 22 | 33.8 | .443 | .392 | .831 | 3.6 | 6.5 | 1.6 | .3 | 19.3 | |
| 1997–98 | New Jersey | 75 | 72 | 34.7 | .441 | .188 | .860 | 3.0 | 8.0 | 1.6 | .3 | 19.6 |
| 1998–99 | New Jersey | 4 | 3 | 25.0 | .429 | .143 | .935 | 1.5 | 4.8 | .8 | .0 | 18.0 |
| Milwaukee | 4 | 0 | 24.8 | .409 | .333 | .947 | 2.3 | 4.3 | 1.5 | .0 | 13.8 | |
| 1999–00 | Milwaukee | 81 | 81 | 35.8 | .466 | .289 | .876 | 3.7 | 9.0 | 1.3 | .1 | 18.6 |
| 2000–01 | Milwaukee | 76 | 75 | 35.6 | .474 | .306 | .858 | 3.9 | 7.6 | 1.2 | .1 | 18.2 |
| 2001–02 | Milwaukee | 74 | 73 | 35.2 | .463 | .348 | .860 | 4.2 | 6.7 | 1.2 | .2 | 19.7 |
| 2002–03 | Milwaukee | 78 | 77 | 34.6 | .470 | .362 | .861 | 4.4 | 5.8 | 1.1 | .2 | 19.7 |
| 2003–04 | Minnesota | 81 | 81 | 35.0 | .488 | .398 | .873 | 3.3 | 7.3 | 1.3 | .2 | 19.8 |
| 2004–05 | Minnesota | 59 | 38 | 25.8 | .464 | .262 | .865 | 2.7 | 5.1 | .6 | .2 | 13.5 |
| 2005–06 | L.A. Clippers | 78 | 75 | 34.0 | .443 | .368 | .863 | 3.7 | 6.3 | .9 | .1 | 17.2 |
| 2006–07 | L.A. Clippers | 58 | 30 | 24.3 | .418 | .294 | .879 | 2.9 | 4.7 | .5 | .1 | 12.3 |
| 2007–08† | L.A. Clippers | 38 | 33 | 25.7 | .455 | .259 | .891 | 2.8 | 4.7 | .7 | .1 | 12.8 |
| Boston | 17 | 1 | 17.6 | .385 | .409 | .840 | 1.8 | 2.1 | .5 | .2 | 7.6 | |
| Career | 993 | 690 | 30.0 | .454 | .331 | .861 | 3.2 | 6.0 | 1.1 | .2 | 15.7 | |
| All-Star | 1 | 0 | 13.0 | .667 | .000 | .000 | 1.0 | 7.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 4.0 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994† | Houston | 22 | 0 | 21.7 | .394 | .378 | 865 | 2.7 | 4.2 | 1.0 | .2 | 9.4 |
| 1995† | Houston | 22 | 0 | 22.0 | .438 | .400 | .835 | 1.9 | 4.0 | 1.0 | .1 | 11.0 |
| 1996 | Houston | 8 | 0 | 25.8 | .321 | .276 | .793 | 2.1 | 4.3 | .8 | .1 | 10.4 |
| 1998 | New Jersey | 3 | 1 | 8.7 | .333 | — | — | 1.0 | 1.7 | .0 | .3 | 2.0 |
| 1999 | Milwaukee | 3 | 3 | 34.0 | .500 | .000 | .875 | 2.0 | 8.7 | 1.0 | .0 | 15.3 |
| 2000 | Milwaukee | 5 | 5 | 35.6 | .417 | .200 | .857 | 3.4 | 9.0 | .8 | .0 | 15.8 |
| 2001 | Milwaukee | 18 | 18 | 37.9 | .396 | .333 | .866 | 4.6 | 6.7 | 1.1 | .2 | 17.4 |
| 2003 | Milwaukee | 6 | 6 | 36.2 | .470 | .524 | .933 | 3.2 | 2.7 | .5 | .2 | 17.2 |
| 2004 | Minnesota | 16 | 15 | 31.1 | .465 | .417 | .852 | 2.5 | 4.4 | .8 | .2 | 16.6 |
| 2006 | L.A. Clippers | 12 | 12 | 33.7 | .437 | .349 | .809 | 4.0 | 5.8 | .7 | .2 | 18.0 |
| 2008† | Boston | 21 | 0 | 12.6 | .333 | .214 | .824 | .7 | 1.2 | .4 | .0 | 4.5 |
| Career | 136 | 60 | 26.0 | .414 | .363 | .847 | 2.6 | 4.4 | .8 | .1 | 12.2 | |
See also
In Spanish: Sam Cassell para niños
