Mo Williams says Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was big help early in career: Cleveland Cavaliers Insider

Williams played just one season in Utah, but it was a beneficial one for a rookie learning how to play in the NBA.

View full sizeGeorge Frey / Associated PressCavaliers guard Jamario Moon, right, dunks over Utah's Al Jefferson during the first half Friday in Salt Lake City.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Cavs guard Mo Williams credits coach Jerry Sloan and the Utah Jazz with starting his career off right.

A second-round draft choice of the Jazz, the 47th pick in 2003, Williams played just one season in Utah, but it was a beneficial one for a rookie learning how to play in the NBA.

"I learned the game," Williams said. "That's a system that teaches you how to be a hard-nosed player. Obviously you're going to get that trait from Jerry. . . .

"My time there was great. I always give Jerry Sloan and Phil [longtime assistant coach Phil Johnson] the utmost respect. I love those guys. They started my career off right. I couldn't have gone to a better place to learn how to play this NBA game, learn work ethic, learn how to work hard and compete. I'm very glad for that opportunity.

"Unfortunately, it was only one year, but I learned a lot in that year. That year has gotten me to where I am today -- learning the game inside out, learning how to be a professional."

Sloan has said the Jazz made a mistake not matching the free-agent offer Milwaukee made to Williams before his second year, but it's hard to argue with how things turned out for Utah. A year later, the Jazz took Deron Williams with the third pick in the 2005 draft, and he has dominated Mo Williams ever since. In eight head-to- head matchups, Deron Williams has outscored Mo Williams by an average of 17.0-11.8 and has outshot him, 42 percent to 31.6 percent. Deron Williams has averaged 9.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds in those eight games, while Mo Williams has averaged 5.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds.

View full sizeAPAntawn Jamison.

Career night: Friday night was the 900th game of Antawn Jamison's career. The Cavs' forward is one of 23 active players with at least 900 games played and one of only three players all-time to have at least 17,000 career points, 7,000 career rebounds, 900 3-pointers made and 900 career games, joining Dirk Nowitzki and Scottie Pippen.

"I've been doing it for so long, and I don't know how much time I have left," Jamison said after Friday's shootaround. "So I take advantage of every situation, every opportunity I have. It is a privilege to be part of this fraternity as far as playing in the NBA, and if this is the only problems in the world I have to deal with I'll try to deal with them, have fun and compete."

Trade talk: Cavs coach Byron Scott figures he has enough on his plate without worrying about a rumored trade of Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace to the Cavaliers.

"I don't pay a whole lot of attention to it," Scott said of the trade reported by Yahoo Sports. "A lot of it's rumors, a lot of it's just people speculating things of that nature. My main focus is this team. My plate's full enough."

According to Yahoo Sports, the Cavs would use their trade exception to acquire Wallace, who has two years and $22 million left on his contract. But the Cavs are seeking a lottery-protected first-round pick, according to Yahoo Sports. The Bobcats have been shopping Wallace for several weeks in an effort to cut costs.

Odds and ends: Former Cleveland and Utah player Matt Harpring is now a broadcaster in Utah. . . . Since Sloan became head coach of the Jazz on Dec. 9, 1988, the Cavs have had eight coaches. The Cleveland Browns have had nine, counting new coach Pat Shurmur.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mschmitt@plaind.com, 216-999-4668

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2011/01/mo_williams_says_utah_jazz_coa.html

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