NBA: Interview With Boston Celtics D-League Coach Scott Morrison

In the middle of the NBA offseason, we sat down with Boston Celtics D-League coach Scott Morrison about his experience with the Maine Red Claws

Scott Morrison spent 11 seasons over in his birthplace of Canada, coaching the Timberwolves of Lakehead University from 2003 to 2014. He’s led the team to great success throughout his tenure there, and even converted them from being the worst team to one of the best.

Akin to how the Boston Celtics did so during the summer of 2007. Maybe that similarity is why they were destined to be in a relationship together.

In 2014, the Maine Red Claws, the NBA D-League affiliate of the Celtics, hired Morrison as their head coach. In his first season with the team, Morrison won Coach of the Year and led the team to their best record in franchise history with a 35-15 record.

This past season, 2015-16, he led the team to a 31-19 record and to the postseason in consecutive seasons for the first time in team history.

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It only took two years for Morrison to become one of the top coaches in the NBA D-League. His journey has just begun, as he’s attempting to develop players the Celtics send him and players that are under D-League contracts to better themselves for the future.

He’s become the D-League version of Drake: both Morrison and Drake left Canada after successful stints in their respective careers to the United States for a bigger opportunity.

Q: What made you get into coaching?

Morrison: My dad coached the local university team when I was growing up. I was born into the game and had an interest in becoming a coach even while I was still playing. I played for my father at the University of Prince Edward Island and had my first coaching job one year after graduating with the Dalhousie University Women’s program.

Q: How did you end up with the Maine Red Claws?

Morrison: When I was coaching at Lakehead University in Ontario, I was able to negotiate a one-year sabbatical where I could take a paid leave for professional development. I contacted 3-4 D-League coaches at the time offering to help them for the season and Coach Mike Taylor in Maine was interested in having me on board.

Portland was only a 7-8 hour drive from my hometown and I liked the fact it was a direct affiliate with the Celtics. I spent that season volunteering and, when the Celtics decided on a coaching change the following summer, I was given an interview and ended up getting the head coaching job.

Q: Being from Canada, what are your thoughts on the evolution of Canadian basketball and where do you see the sport going in the future?

Morrison: I have been fortunate to be involved with Canada Basketball the past five season first with the National Junior program and then more recently with our Senior National team. It is exciting to be a part of the momentum that we are enjoying with our player development and following the guys as they move from NCAA to professional ranks.

While our future player pool is deep we need to find a way to keep our top players participating on national teams and playing for their country on a consistent basis – this will lead to our goals of getting back to the Olympics and fighting for a medal.

Q: What’s the best part of your job?

Morrison: The best part of my job is getting to work with great people and excellent players everyday. I learn lots and enjoy going to the office each morning. That said, one of the best perks is that on bad days I get to sit back and remind myself that I coach basketball for a living. I am very fortunate in that regard.

Q: The NBA salary cap has increased, and the D-League cap has also. What are your thoughts on the wages in the D-League for players and do you think their salaries are unfair?

Morrison: I would be lying if I said I thought they were fair. People less familiar with the league are often shocked when I tell them what the players make. Of course, the players can choose to play elsewhere or take up a different profession, but in order for the NBA to maximize the benefits of the league I think the salaries must continue to rise so that better players will choose to sign up and the league can truly become one of the top leagues in the world outside of the NBA.

Q: The Celtics have had many rookies over the past few years. What’s it been like to coach them and see them develop? And who do you see has the greatest potential?

Its been a fun two years and our success as a team has started to create some basketball opportunities for me already

Morrison: As a D-League coach, my top priority is to help the NBA players development process whenever they are assigned to our team in Maine. Because of this I take great pride in our efforts to help them as well as watching them have success with the big club.

I think Danny Ainge and the front office in Boston have made some great picks since I have been around and I am excited to see the progress of all of the guys we have coached in Maine. Jordan Mickey was outstanding in Maine last season and I am hoping he can transfer that over to the NBA. It was also great to see Terry Rozier stand out in summer league and here lots of NBA types talk about how much he has improved since last summer.

Q: Out of the recent draft picks by the team, are there any players you’re interested in coaching?

Morrison: I like working with all of them. This year’s draft has already shown well in Utah and Vegas including Jaylen Brown, Yabusele, Nader etc. Hopefully I will get a chance to work with all of those guys in some form or another.

I hope to also see some of our full-time Maine players from last season get a shot in the NBA and hopefully catch on including Malcolm Miller, who played with Boston this summer as well as Levi Randolph and Coty Clarke.

Q: What’s it like being a successful coach in the D-League and who do you credit for it?

Morrison: Its been a fun two years and our success as a team has started to create some basketball opportunities for me already. However, most of the credit should go to the excellent coaching staff we have put together as well as the Celtics scouting department who have blessed us with some great D league talent. Those things combined have resulted in a lot of wins and two Atlantic Division championships for the Red Claws.

Q: The goal for most is to make it to an NBA coaching staff. Have you had any discussions with teams?

Morrison: Yes, that is the goal for pretty much everyone in the D League. I see other guys starting to get their opportunities and I hope mine will come soon as well. For the moment, though, I stay focused on doing the best job I can in my position and hope that some of the teams in the NBA warm up to the idea of giving me a shot to help them out on the big stage.

Q: What are the benefits of the D-League?

Morrison: For both players and coaches, the most important benefit is development. Becoming better players, coaches is what we are all here for. The D League should not be a permanent destination for anyone but it can be a valuable investment period in oneself to prepare for bigger things in the future and help open up some doors and opportunities down the road.

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Q: What’s the offseason been like for you thus far? Anything fun or basketball related you’ve done?

Morrison: The offseason has been busy. My goal every summer is to build my network and learn as a coach. This year has been no different as I have worked the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, the Adidas NBA Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy, and then was on the coaching staff with the Canadian National team that competed in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manilla, Philippines.

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