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A Brad Stevens And Duke Story

Would he?

Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets - Game Two
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 25: Head coach Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics reacts against the Brooklyn Nets in Game Two of the First Round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on May 25, 2021 in New York City. 
Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images

Like a lot of Duke fans we’ve always wondered about the whole Brad-Stevens-to-Duke thing. With the retirement of Danny Ainge as the GM of the Boston Celtics, Stevens is moving from coaching into Ainge’s role.

According to this link from David Thompson in the Fayetteville Observer, when Stevens was hired by Boston he said he’d stay “until they either fire him or Duke comes calling.”

But he’s also reportedly a bit burned out - 82+ games a year can do that - and he has still-young children at home.

And aside from that, college basketball has changed a lot since he departed the scene. Now he’d have to deal with the transfer portal and soon, NIL changes, not to mention the normal recruiting complications.

Still, Duke is Duke and he would command immense respect and attention in that platform. And sometimes when you step away from something, you realize how much you actually miss it.