Stars Schiller, Taylor Receive G-League Honors

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -The NBA G-League named Salt Lake City Stars head coach Martin Schiller Coach of the Year. Schiller led the Stars to a franchise-best 30 wins before the season was canceled due to the coronavirus. Schiller was joined by the Stars vice president of basketball operations Bart Taylor who was named G-League Executive of the Year.

Under the third season with Schiller as head coach, the Stars have seen a dramatic turnaround in performance. The team has posted back to back winning seasons after eight consecutive sub .500 finishes. The Stars owned the best record in the Western Conference and second-best record overall when the season was canceled.

“Join us in congratulating Martin Schiller,” The Stars tweeted. “The 2019-20 Dennis Johnson @nbagleague Coach of the Year!”

Join us in congratulating Martin Schiller, the 2019-20 Dennis Johnson @nbagleague Coach of the Year! pic.twitter.com/D5ZmcV6pc4

— Salt Lake City Stars (@slcstars) June 24, 2020

The team added a second tweet listing Schiller’s accomplishments this season. In addition to the franchise and conference-best 30 wins, the Stars won the NBA G-League Showcase Tournament and saw two players called up to the NBA. Juwan Morgan signed with the Utah Jazz in November, while William Howard signed with the Houston Rockets in December.

Hailing from Austria, Schiller has strong roots in the international basketball community. Schiller coached in both Austria and Germany before moving to the G-League as the Stars head coach. He was also an assistant coach on the German National Team with Jazz assistant coach Alex Jensen.

Schiller was selected in a vote by the league’s 28 head coaches and general managers according to the team’s release.

Bart Taylor Joins Schiller For G-League Honors

In addition to Schiller’s award, Stars front office member Bart Taylor was named G-League Executive of the Year. Taylor was first hired as a scouting coordinator for the Jazz in 2013. The team promoted Taylor to Director of Scouting in 2016, before adding Stars VP to his title.

“More congrats are in order!” The Stars tweeted. “Bart Taylor, our vice president of basketball operations and @utahjazz director of scouting, has been named @nbagleague Basketball Executive of the Year!”

More congrats are in order!

Bart Taylor, our vice president of basketball operations and @utahjazz director of scouting, has been named @nbagleague Basketball Executive of the Year! 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/29Emo2hXrD

— Salt Lake City Stars (@slcstars) June 24, 2020

Taylor helps oversee the Jazz annual two-day minicamp that has helped produce players like the Jazz Royce O’Neale.

Taylor earned the honor in a vote of NBA G League team basketball executives.

“Martin and Bart have worked tirelessly, often behind the scenes and out of the spotlight, to do all they can to put the Jazz in a position to win thanks to their work with the Stars,” Dennis Lindsey, executive vice president of basketball operations for the Utah Jazz said in the release.

“When we moved the team to Salt Lake City in 2016, we had a vision for how the Stars would fit in and play a critical role in our operations with the Jazz. Today’s recognitions are well-deserved and we’re proud to share in their celebrations.”

Salt Lake City Stars Season Canceled

The G-League season’s cancelation coincided with the NBA’s suspension after Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. The Stars issued a statement after the season was canceled.

“While disappointing, we fully support the NBA G League’s announcement canceling the remainder of the 2019-20 season. We know this was an extremely hard decision driven by many factors, but a necessary one, as the health and safety of our community is paramount,” Salt Lake City Stars president Jonathan Rinehart said in a statement.

2019-20 COY Martin Schiller out-coached the rest of the competition

for more: https://t.co/G73iFlO5FJ pic.twitter.com/5Iao8huBXk

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) June 24, 2020

“I am grateful to our players, coaches and staff for their remarkable efforts and contributions over the course of the season, and especially to our fans and partners for their tremendous support. We would have enjoyed competing for a championship following the most successful season in Stars history, but now we turn our focus to returning to the court for the 2020-21 campaign. At the same time, we recognize that there are much larger issues of pain and trauma facing our country. We are committed to lending our voice to address systemic racial injustice and continuing to help those in need.”

Both Jarrell Brantley and Justin Wright-Foreman who split time between the Jazz and Stars on two-way contracts are expected to join the Jazz when the NBA season resumes in Orlando.