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Getty James Posey de los Boston Celtics.
The Boston Celtics ended up losing to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals last year, falling just two wins away from winning their first championship in 14 years. The last time they were able to win it all was during the 2007-08 season.
That season, the Celtics were led by the legendary trio of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, with Rajon Rondo acting as the fourth honorary member of the Big 3. Beyond those four, though, that team had plenty of other major contributors. , and one of them just got another job in the NBA.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Washington Wizards are hiring former Celtics champion James Posey as an assistant coach. Posey spent 12 years in the NBA with seven different teams: the Celtics, Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Hornets, Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers.
The Washington Wizards are finalizing a deal to hire James Posey as an assistant coach, sources told ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 22, 2022
The 45-year-old has experience in the NBA as a coach and has also tested the waters in the college ranks. As Wojnarowski describes it, Posey’s time as a player and coach has prepared him for this opportunity with the Wizards under Wes Unseld Jr.
Posey’s training and playing experience
In a secondary tweet from Wojnarowski, the ESPN insider detailed Posey’s experience as a coach and player that has gotten him to this point. He has held coaching positions in the NBA and NCAA and also won two championships during his time as a player.
“Posey spent five years with the Cleveland Cavaliers with Ty Lue and David Blatt last season as an assistant in UVA’s women’s basketball program. Posey won two championships (Miami 2006, Boston 2008) in his 12-year career as an NBA player,” Wojnarowski tweeted.
Posey spent five years with the Cleveland Cavaliers under Ty Lue and David Blatt last season as an assistant in UVA’s women’s basketball program. Posey won two championships (Miami 2006, Boston 2008) in his 12-year career as an NBA player.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 22, 2022
During his time with the Cavaliers, Posey was part of the 2016 NBA Championship team managed by LeBron James. He was an assistant in Cleveland from the 2014-15 season through the 2018-19 season.
The NBA veteran also has experience from his time with the University of Virginia women’s basketball program. He was an assistant coach to Tina Thompson, who had some kind words for Posey when she joined her staff.
Thompson on Posey: ‘A teaching spirit’
When Posey joined the Virginia staff last summer, Thompson had a lot of good things to say about the NBA veteran. According to her, he is a great teacher, has great knowledge about the game and is what she would call a basketball purist.
“Coach Posey is what we call a stickler,” Thomspon explained. “He loves all aspects of the game and has played it at the highest level. He brings a champion mindset, a wealth of knowledge and a teaching spirit, with development being his specialty and passion. Our student-athletes will be blessed recipients of that knowledge. I’m looking for him to step in with his energy and experience and have an instant impact. We can’t wait to welcome Coach Posey to the Wahoo Nation!”
The champion Celtics will now get a chance to work out with Unseld Jr. as the Wizards look to advance to the playoffs with Bradley Beal at the helm. Beal just signed a massive contract extension, so putting a competitive team around him is probably Washington’s top priority, and Posey will be looking to help them with that goal.
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