Because just one wasn’t enough, the Celtics have added a second former guard to be an assistant coach staff this offseason—Phil Pressey. This news comes just a few weeks after the team brought Sam Cassell back to the team as an assistant coach as well.
Celtics Hire Phil Pressey To Be New Assistant Coach
NBA Career
Pressey was signed by the Celtics as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and was with the organization until 2015. During that time, he split time between the NBA roster and the then D-League Maine Red Claws. In the 2015-2016 season, Pressey spent time with the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers but didn’t amount to much, playing just 23 total games for the two teams. Pressey would not play in the NBA again following these stints, but he played with the D-League team, and the Santa Cruz Warriors, and had multiple overseas stints as a player until 2022.
This will be Pressey’s first coaching stint in the NBA, but he does still have a bit of experience under his belt. Pressey was an assistant coach for his alma mater Missouri Tigers, from 2022-2023.
Pressey is the son of former NBA player Paul Pressey, who won a championship in 1999 as an assistant coach of the San Antonio Spurs.
Joining the Celtics
Although Pressey hasn’t been with the Celtics organization since 2015, there are some familiar faces in Boston for the 32-year-old. Marcus Smart and Pressey were briefly teammates in the 2014-2015 season. Pressey will also be working under Brad Stevens, his former coach in Boston.
Stevens has made it clear that one of his priorities is adding to the coaching staff to support Joe Mazzulla. Adding Pressey is a very interesting move considering his lack of NBA coaching experience. However, as with Cassell, it is always a good idea to add people who know the Celtics’ culture to the staff.
Pressey’s hiring is just one more step to Stevens’ goal of pushing this Celtics team over the hump and winning Championship 18.
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