From 2014-2022, current Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder was the head coach of the Utah Jazz and during his time, he was one of the best head coaches in the NBA. During his time with the Jazz, Snyder compiled a 372–264 and made the playoffs multiple seasons.
After resigning as the head coach of the Jazz, Snyder elected to not take any jobs at the start of the 2022-2023 season, but the Hawks came calling after firing Nate McMillan last February and Snyder took the job.
Tonight is going to be the first time that Snyder has had a chance to coach against his former team and during his pregame press conference, Snyder was asked to reflect upon his time in Salt Lake City:
"It is true in so many ways how that time impacted me and my family. It was some great years and Ryan and that relationship, Danny, Justin, so many people in that organization to be impressed with, the players that I have had a chance to see over the course of games this year. So obviously, fond probably understates it as far as the memories that are there and then you can't really do it without the fans and the people in the community that made that not just meaningful but impactful for me and so many families. "
Snyder is coaching against his former team for the first time tonight and former Hawks forward John Collins is playing his first game in Atlanta since being traded to the Jazz last summer.
After Utah's win on Sunday night vs the Spurs, Collins talked a little bit about what it will be like to come back to Atlanta for the first time:
"I have not been trying to think about it too much, but obviously it has been on my mind, I am sort of anxious to get on the court with some familiar faces and go out there and compete, I am going to be ready to play that night."
Today at the pre-game shootaround, Collins was asked about being a fan favorite in Atlanta and what the reception might be like for him:
"I am going to love it, I am going to show love where it is shown to me and the city of Atlanta has done that big time for me so I love every single one of the fans that supported me and had my back through my time here, much love to them, to all of the fans in the A and try to continue to put on a show for them wherever I am."
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