Jerry Sloan

Deron Williams and Jerry Sloan Bury Past

Williams’ time in Utah didn’t end well.

Neither did the relationship with his former coach.

Utah Jazz writer Aaron Falk published a story Monday that I’m sure is confusing Jazz fans emotionally. The story mentions former Jazz man Deron Williams, who left the team in a less-than-ideal way.

After years of silence on the matter, a meeting was set up between Williams and his former coach, Jazz legend Jerry Sloan.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for years,” Williams said. “Just kind of stubbornness and nerves and all that played a part in why I never reached out.”

With Sloan suffering from the effects of old age, it became apparent the time was right to make amends. However, with disease currently distorting Sloan’s memory, there was a concern the facts may be a bit muddied.

In contrast, it quickly became apparent the former coach’s memory was true.

“But I’ll tell you what,” Williams said, “he does remember a lot. That’s for sure. The good, the bad, the ugly.”

Deron Williams and Jerry Sloan – The Regrets

Since Williams and the Jazz organization parted ways, Williams has remained one of Jazz fans’ most hated players. Personally, I’ve always wondered what could have been if the two had been able to put ego aside and truly compete together.

I’ve also always felt bitter towards Williams, so you’ll understand why it felt so good to see some remorse coming from the former player.

“There are a lot of things I could have handled better, but I was stubborn,” he said. “I was young and stupid. I could have just came in there and shut up, which would have been the smart thing to do, the right thing to do. He’s the coach.”

This seems to be a recurring theme in professional sports. Unfortunately, Williams became yet another player to fall victim.

“But at the time, how I was—my competitiveness, my stubbornness—sometimes it just got the best of me.”

Deron Williams and Jerry Sloan – The Meeting

As time moved forward, Jazz president Steve Starks realized there wasn’t much time left for the two to make amends. This was a feeling he couldn’t shake.

“The thought of Coach Sloan passing away at some point before this meeting took place, to me, was terrible,” Starks said. “As Deron’s career started to wind down and Coach’s health declined, enough time had passed—and now it was time to come together. I really believe if the meeting didn’t take place, both of them would regret it.”

On June 19, Williams toured the recently renovated Zions Bank Basketball Campus with Greg Miller and Steve Starks. After the tour, the three men drove to Sloan’s home.

The men sat together for hours, going through details of the past in hopes of forgiving and forgetting. However, that was easier for some than others.

“He doesn’t forget a lot of things, instances where I pissed him off, things I did to upset him,” Williams said.

But it wasn’t all that harsh.

“He definitely told me about that—and rightfully so. He was great about some other things. It was kind of typical Coach Sloan, really. If you know him, he’s never been one to shy away from telling you the truth and how he feels.”

Deron Williams and Jerry Sloan – Post Meeting

Although we’ll never know exactly what was said, Williams said he left the meeting feeling better about the entire situation.

“I got a chance to apologize for how things went down,” he said. “He got to voice his opinion about all the times I was a little s— to him and was a pain in his ass, and for him to get things off his chest. I think it was good. There was nothing bad about it. It was only positive.”

To read this article and others from Deseret News Writer Aaron Falk, click here.

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