Categories: Courtside

Did Deron Williams Drive Jerry Sloan Out Of Utah?

Jerry Sloan, an NBA fixture on the sideline for more than 2 decades, abruptly stepped down as coach of the Utah Jazz last night after the Jazz lost to the Bulls on Wednesday night. Sloan just signed a year extension with the team in the past week.

Apparently the driving reason for his departure was the tension between he and the Jazz’s star player, Deron Williams.

Two sources say Wednesday’s tension started when DWill ran different play than the play called on sideline by Sloan, leading to halftime blowup. “He felt like ownership was listening more to Williams than they were to him anymore. He was done.”

Deron is a free agent in 2012.  It would be tragic if he pushed the legendary coach out the door and then didn’t resign in Utah. I’ve never been a Jazz fan but that team has been consistent in it’s playoff appearances only missing in ’04, ’05 and ’06 plus two finals appearances in ’97 and ’98 under Sloan’s tenure.

Although this season it’s obvious the inclusion of Al Jefferson wasn’t working well within their offensive scheme, the team is 31-23 and currently sits as the 6th seed in the west.

Longtime assistant coach Phil Johnson is stepping down also.

Jill Munroe

Jill Munroe is a Los Angeles-based host, producer, and writer. You can find her work on sites such as FoxSports.com, EURweb.com, and MSN.com. Munroe is a current member of the African-American Film Critics Association and the National Association of Black Journalists. Munroe has also been a frequent guest on ESPN radio and Yahoo Sports. In 2015, Munroe released her first book, "PostGame Pass: access into "the life" JillMunroe.com

Share
Published by
Jill Munroe

Recent Posts

RSVP Book Recommendations & Review: Worthy- Jada Pinkett-Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith, a global superstar known for her multifaceted career as an actress, singer-songwriter,…

6 months ago

Deon Cole & Cast Talk BET+ Series ‘Average Joe’ Talk Dark Comedy & Zombie Apocalypse Skills

The new BET+ series, "Average Joe" is a dark comedy inspired by the life of…

10 months ago

“The Angry Black Girl & Her Monster” | Insights with Filmmaker Bomani Story

“The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster” is about Vicaria, a brilliant teenager who believes death…

10 months ago

HULU’s “Searching for Soul Food”: Exploring Culinary Legacies Around the World With Chef Alisa Reynolds

Hulu's new series, "Searching for Soul Food," takes viewers on an international journey with renowned…

11 months ago

Power Book II: Ghost’s Shane Johnson Talks Cooper Saxe’s Death & Time On Power Franchise

The character of Cooper Saxe appeared in over 60 episodes across the "Power" universe. The…

11 months ago

Making Waves: Halle Bailey on Bringing Ariel to Life in Disney’s 2023 “The Little Mermaid” Live-Action Remake

 Disney's live-action rendition of "The Little Mermaid" has emerged from a tidal wave of anticipation…

11 months ago

This website uses cookies.