Mike Bibby on why he hated defending Sam Cassell: "No matter what you do, he's there"
Sam Cassell had a prolific NBA career, playing from 1993 to 2009. During that 16-year career, Sam was a challenging matchup for every point guard he played against. One of those point guards is Mike Bibby, who considers Sam one of the toughest matchups he played against.
It is rare yet deserved praise for Cassell because he’s one of the most underrated players over the past three decades. He was never the biggest superstar on the floor, but he was steady and reliable enough to be a problematic matchup for any point guard.
“Oh man, you can’t block that s**t. No matter what you do, he’s there, but he’s getting it off every time,” Bibby said on Forgotten Seasons. “Nothing you can do about it. That’s why they had Doug (Christie) guarding him… I couldn’t guard Sam out there; I wasn’t giving no defense to Sam.”
Cassell deserves his flowers as an underrated floor general
Sam gets lost in the shuffle when talking about reliable point guards of the past. He was one of the steadiest floor generals of the 1990s and 2000s, averaging double-digit points from 1995 until 2007. He was also a superb playmaker, averaging six assists per game throughout his career.
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Cassell’s most productive season came during the 2003/04 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He forged a fantastic partnership with Kevin Garnett, who won the MVP award that season. However, KG was not the only Wolves player to earn accolades because Cassell was given an All-Star nod and was part of the All-NBA Second Team.
Sam I Am was a superb player, making Garnett more frustrated when the Wolves did not offer him a contract extension. It annoyed KG and Sam because they loved playing together.
“Look, I've been underpaid my whole career. Then I take that Minnesota team to a franchise-high 58 wins. Help 'em get out of the first round for the first time,” Cassell said to ESPN back in 2006. “Help Kevin McHale walk around with his chest out. Help Ticket [Kevin Garnett] become MVP. But management says no new deal and says I'm a distraction. Minnesota gave me away. No disrespect to Marko, but ain't no way in the world he's me. KG was pissed.”
Cassell was a superb leader for his teams
Apart from his production as a point guard, Cassell was a valuable member of the locker room, as he was a good leader. He had a natural leadership ability, evident in his role in the Houston Rockets’ two championships in 1994 and 1995, alongside his 2008 title win with the Boston Celtics.
This type of leadership led to Sam becoming an assistant coach after his career. Since 2009, Cassell has bounced around the NBA as an assistant coach, particularly under his 2008 champion coach, Doc Rivers. However, Cassell has branched out on his own now as a Boston Celtics staff member under Joe Mazzulla.
The 16-year veteran will be valuable in the locker room because he could teach his players tips and tricks. Those might be the key to frustrating opponents, such as how Bibby felt when defending Cassell.
