Micah Shrewsberry has been an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics for the last four seasons. Prior to the Celtics, he was also by Brad Stevens’ side during Butler’s consecutive Final Four runs and also spent two years at Purdue.
While he has now coached at the very highest levels of both college and professional basketball, Shrewsberry’s roots were at the small college level as both a player and young coach.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Adam Finkelstein and Micah talk about everything from his diverse experiences, to how the Celtics teach shot selection and his goal of becoming a head coach.
From point guard at Hanover College to a career in coaching
“I knew I wasn’t a great player. I knew I wouldn’t be able to play beyond the college level. A lot of my teammates at Hanover, and we were very interested in staying involved in the game. So we became coaches.”
Joining the Boston Celtics coaching staff
“It came in July, right at the heart of the recruiting process. (Purdue) Coach Painter was unbelievable…He said if you don’t take this job, I’ll fire you for stupidity.”
The Transition from College to the NBA
“To make that jump is hard because don’t don’t want to come in and be the quote-un-quote college guy. You want to fit in, you want to make sure you know because the guys in the league are smart, and if you’re not 100% confident, then they’ll be off you quickly.”
What’s it like to coach Kyrie Irving?
“People want to know how they do it, but seeing it every day is fun. To watch a guy like Kyrie who wants to be the best…how he goes about his practice every day.”
Future Aspirations
“That’s definitely is my goal and my dream. I think the right place is important for me. I’m in an unbelievable spot right now with the Boston Celtics.”
