Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images
Boston adds another former player to their coaching staff.
After the Boston Celtics hired Ime Udoka earlier this summer, the Maine Celtics have found a new head coach, too. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Sotto, the team’s G-League affiliate has hired Jarell Christian:
Christian, 35, was most recently an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards from 2019-21. Christian spent one season as head coach of the Capital City Go-Go, Washington’s G League affiliate, before becoming an assistant coach with the Wizards.
Last season, the Celtics opted out of the G-League bubble in Orlando. Boston’s two former two-way players, Tremont Waters and Tacko Fall, spent the year on the bench instead. Former (then) Red Claws head coach Darren Erman left the team after a successful 28-14 season to join Tom Thibodeau on the New York Knicks bench.
As former CelticsBlogger Chris Grenham notes, Christian’s hiring is a good one. He has a long history of player development that also includes time with the Oklahoma City Blue. After taking over the helm as President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens and Udoka have targeted several former players to fill positions on the coaching staff. Udoka’s bench includes former players Ben Sullivan, Will Hardy, Aaron Miles, and Garrett Jackson. Christian played his college ball at Emory and Henry College in Atlanta.