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NEW ORLEANS – Brad Stevens is a smart man – a man who knows exactly what his role will be when he coaches the Eastern Conference All-Stars Sunday night in New Orleans.
“I’ll stay out of their way,” the coach joked Friday afternoon with a grin as he discussed his role in Sunday night’s NBA showcase. “I know my lane.”
In reality, however, some of Stevens’ new shiny toys – aka his All-Stars – might not want him to stay out of their way.
“It’s funny, I’ve always had a respect from afar for Brad,” said three-time All-Star Kyle Lowry, who plays for the Atlantic Division-rival Toronto Raptors. “I’m actually looking forward to sitting down and talking to him and seeing his persona.”
Lowry is one of 22 All-Stars who have never played for Stevens in an official setting. Only Isaiah Thomas, who is in his third season under Stevens with the Celtics, and Gordon Hayward, who built the foundation of his successful NBA career with two seasons of play under Stevens at Butler University, have done so.
Sunday’s matchup between the East’s best and the West’s best surely won’t feel like playing for Stevens in a regular season game by any stretch of the imagination. After all, this game is more showcase than competition.
However, it is a game nonetheless – a game that both sides want to win – and Stevens will be the man guiding the East squad throughout the weekend and for 48 minutes Sunday night.
Thomas anticipates that his coach’s most revered qualities will quickly resonate with his East teammates as they spend time around Stevens this weekend.
“He’s not fake in any sense. He’s a real genuine guy,” Thomas explained. “He’s young, he loves the game, he’s watched these players play for years. They’ll see just how cool of a guy he is.”
That’s what struck Thomas the most when he first met Stevens back in February of 2015, when the Celtics acquired the point guard from Phoenix at the trade deadline.
“He was as real as they come,” Thomas remembered as he sat in front of a herd of media members at his All-Star media availability table. “He’s not sugarcoating anything, whether good or bad, and he’s a real genuine dude.
“With him, it’s bigger than basketball. It’s not just about being a good basketball player. It’s about being a good person, and I think that goes a longer way than anything.”
But if this game happens to go down to the wire, and the East has a chance to win with a basket in the final minutes? Thomas believes his coach’s basketball IQ will shine through.
“If he’s able to draw up some out-of-bounds timeout plays,” Thomas said smiling, “they’ll know how good he is.”
Stevens, in his own right, isn’t too concerned with drawing up plays or coaching the most talented team he’s ever been around. Instead, he’s more excited about the experience his family is about to soak in alongside him this weekend.
“I think that this is a great opportunity for our families,” he said, “and we’re going to take that opportunity, we’re going to appreciate it, we’re going to have fun.
“I know that [the coaching staff] got off the plane at 1:30 in the morning (Saturday) and went about our business right when we got here, so hopefully we’ll get a chance to all sit down and take a deep breath and enjoy it a little bit.”
Again, to reiterate Thomas’ point, it’s bigger than basketball with Stevens, even at All-Star weekend.
He may try his best to stay out of the way Sunday night, but one thing is for certain: the East All-Stars will walk away from this weekend knowing that Stevens is one of the best coaches and people around.