Former Jazz All-Star Deron Williams Attends Phoenix Suns/Utah Jazz Game
Feb 24, 2020, 8:12 PM | Updated: 10:57 pm
Former Jazzman Deron Williams sits courtside at Vivint Smart Home Arena for a game between the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns on Monday, February 24, 2020.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former NBA All-Star and Jazz point guard Deron Williams attended Utah’s game against the Phoenix Suns.
The Jazz hosted the Suns at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Monday, February 24.
Williams sat courtside to watch Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, and the rest of the Jazz play against Devin Booker and the Suns.
Really cool to see @DeronWilliams back at @vivintarena tonight. #TakeNote #DWill #PHXatUTA
📷: @ATTSportsNetRM pic.twitter.com/AhNVsE6Hbq
— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) February 25, 2020
D-Will In A Jazz Jersey
The former Jazzman played five and a half seasons with Utah before he was traded to the New Jerseys Nets.
Williams played 439 games in a Jazz uniform. During his time in Utah, Williams averaged 17.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game.
It's good to see Deron Williams in the building tonight. #TakeNote #UtahJazz #NBA #NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/5RkOms39Mf
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) February 25, 2020
The former Jazz guard was honored as an NBA All-Star in 2010 and 2011 before joining New Jersey.
Deron Williams On Jerry Sloan
In February 2011, legendary Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and Williams got into a heated argument.
After a disagreement on a play call during a game, Sloan and Williams reportedly exchanged angry words with each at halftime.
Sloan resigned from the head coaching position with the Jazz after the game. It ended a 26-year run for Sloan with the Jazz.
Shortly after the incident Utah’s traded Williams to New Jersey.
After years of not speaking to each other about the heated exchange, the Jazz organization arranged a meeting between Williams and Sloan, in which the former Jazz guard apologized for his actions to his former coach.
Williams addressed his relationship with Coach Sloan during Utah’s game against Phoenix.
“I have a lot of respect for Coach Sloan. He is the greatest coach I’ve ever played for,” said Williams during an in-game interview with Jazz TV. “When you’re that young and you’re kind of boneheaded, you take for granted the things he was trying to teach you and the things that he instilled in you. You wish you could get those back but you live and you learn.”
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Post-Jazz Williams
In his first season with the Nets, Williams was named an All-Star once again.
He played for the Nets from 2011-2015.
In 2015, Williams signed with his hometown team, the Dallas Mavericks. Williams played for the Mavs until 2017.
Williams last played in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017 when the Cavs fell in the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors.
During his 12 year career, Williams averaged 16.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per contest.
DWill in the building ❤️ pic.twitter.com/3Ln0qF3jB3
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 25, 2020
The former Jazzman also earned two gold medals as a member of Team USA in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.
Utah Deron Williams was always cookin’!
D. Will finished with 30 pts and 14 ast to help the Jazz comeback for the win over the Magic. (2010) pic.twitter.com/YlLg1WNkaH
— ThrowbackHoops (@ThrowbackHoops) August 9, 2019
Former Jazzman and teammate of Williams, Mehmet Okur was also in attendance for Utah’s game against Phoenix.
