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SALT LAKE CITY — In the list of polarizing Utah sports figures, Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams sits at or near the top.
The once-acclaimed point guard, who some fans hold responsible for the departure of Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan, returned to Utah Wednesday to a mixture of boos and cheers from Jazz fans, all while getting 19 points and seven assists in a 105-99 win over the Jazz.
The eclectic mix of support and disapproval is almost as conflicting as Williams was during his tenure with the Jazz. While he could occasionally be described as disinterested or standoffish, Williams was cordial and friendly when greeting local reporters during the pregame shootaround.
Again, Williams and Sloan are forever linked, and the former All-Star Jazz point guard said Sloan was a positive influence on his career.
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“He’s definitely deserving of that (honor),” said Williams, referencing the Jazz recently honoring Sloan. “He’s one of the best coaches to ever do it. I had a great 5½ years playing for him. Learned a lot from him; a lot of toughness, a lot mentally.”
Even more, the former Illinois star said his family still enjoys spending time in Utah during the offseason.
“Salt Lake, Park City is great during the summertime,” Williams said. “We have a lot of friends still here; my family is comfortable here. My kids like it here; they have a lot of friends here. It’s a great place to golf in the summer, so I enjoy it here.”
Williams isn’t the only Jazz alumnus to play for the Nets, as he’s joined by Andrei Kirilenko. Kirilenko, who is as famous for his at times brilliant play as he is infamous for his high-priced contract, said returning to Utah is a surreal experience.
“When we land in Utah, we feel like we’re coming home,” he said. “It’s the same feeling right now. It’s a lot of great memories here, and a lot of nice moments. Of course, I’m going to feel it for the rest of my life.”
Returning to a longtime home can be awkward regardless of careers, and Nets coach Jason Kidd, who played for four different teams, said the key to avoiding that awkwardness is held in professionalism.
“They’re professionals,” said Kidd, who is in his first season as an NBA coach. “It’s probably always nice to come back where (they) spent a lot of time, and seeing old faces and having an opportunity to play where you probably had a lot of success.”
On the Mount Rushmore of Jazz point guards, Williams sits in sole second place behind Hall of Fame player John Stockton. The Jazz are developing their second young point guard in a decade in Trey Burke, and Williams said he’s been impressed with Burke’s game to this point.
“He looked good,” he said. “He played hard tonight, played well tonight. Watched him at Michigan and he is a great young point guard. Very talented.”
While Burke is the present and future, Williams was a vital part of the past, as he played for a Western Conference final and four Jazz playoff teams.
After Sloan’s resignation, Williams was booed in his first appearance after the longtime coach’s resignation, and said while the treatment from fans affected him early on, he’s moved on.
“A lot of people blame me for Coach (Sloan) stepping down,” he said. “Guys that love him, they’re going to see it that way. Getting traded helped, because I was away from the situation. But when it first happened, it definitely bothered me.
“It has gotten better and better every year. Maybe in a couple years I will get all cheers, you never know.”
