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Of course, his words are drastically different on the court. Four-letter words often fill the air. He curses to motivate himself, to chastise himself, and to encourage teammates. There is such a stark contrast between the on-floor Garnett and the one who wishes media members happy holidays after interviews. “Ever since I moved from the South to the North [as a 17-year-old], Northern people are a lot more aggressive than Southern people,” said Garnett about his move from South Carolina to Chicago as a high school senior. “One of the lessons I learned living in Chicago is no one’s going to give you anything and you have to take it. I’ve carried that mentality into the league with me. Sam Mitchell helped kind of massage that mentality: stand your ground, this a man’s league.” Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Sam Mitchell, Kevin Garnett 

Asked if he is the Sam Mitchell to Jared Sullinger, Garnett said, “I’m more like a — yeah, never mind. I was going to say something but I won’t. “When I came into the league, I was trying to prove something to myself and everybody who doubted me, and to this day I think I am still driven by those same things. I’ve never been short of encouragement. I’ve never been short of inspiration and things that’s going to get me going. I’ve always found an edge and been able to keep it.” Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Sam Mitchell, Kevin Garnett, Jared Sullinger 

Mitchell believes this could be one reason why Bargnani hasn't turned out to be the franchise player some thought he could become. "I wasn't allowed to coach Andrea the same way I was allowed to coach Jose (Calderon)," Mitchell told Tim & Sid on Sportsnet 590 The Fan on Wednesday. "I was a hard ass on Jose; I was hard on him, but look at the type of player he turned out to be. "I was not allowed to be that tough on Andrea because within the organization we felt he couldn't take it. And my whole thing was if he can't take it then we can't build around him. And no one thought Jose could take it, and Jose did." SportsNet

Toronto Raptors, Sam Mitchell, Andrea Bargnani 

Mitchell added that it was determined early in the process that he should go easy on Bargnani. "I think because he was the No. 1 pick and a lot was invested in him, I just think people in the organization thought my coaching style would be too tough on Andrea." SportsNet

Toronto Raptors, Sam Mitchell, Andrea Bargnani 

Mitchell agrees to some extent, but said the Raptors ultimately made the best decision for them at the time. "That was a tough draft. I believe in that draft if Brandon Roy didn't have the knee issues he would have been the No. 1 pick, but the reason we passed on Brandon Roy is the reason you see now, his knees," Mitchell explained. "I'm not disappointed from the standpoint that we took Andrea, but I'm disappointed in that Andrea has yet to reach the potential he has because … Andrea has all-star type talent. He just hasn't played up to it yet. SportsNet

Toronto Raptors, Sam Mitchell, Andrea Bargnani 

Former Toronto Raptors coach Sam Mitchell vehemently denied a story that he had a training room tussle with Vince Carter back when the two were members of the organization. Jalen Rose, who played for Mitchell in Toronto, recently said on Grantland.com that the two were involved in an altercation which eventually ended with Carter picking up Sam Mitchell over shoulders and slamming him onto the training room floor. SportsNet

Toronto Raptors, Vince Carter, Jalen Rose, Sam Mitchell 

"You know the media. If Vince Carter and I got into a fight in the lockerroom when I was the coach, how long do you think it would be before the information would have came out?" Micthell asked his hosts. "You think it would have taken six or seven years before it came out? Or do you think it would have come out within a day? "You know guys can't hold water. Do you think they could have held that for six years?" SportsNet

Toronto Raptors, Jalen Rose, Sam Mitchell 

Mitchell went on to provide his version of the story. "Morris Peterson was lying on the training table. He got hurt in practice - like, slightly pulled his hamstring. I went down to the training room, where all the players were after practice getting treatment. I was talking to Mo, Vince came up behind me and put me in a bear hug, and I stumbled and fell on one of the training tables. "He starts laughing and saying, 'Coach, I got you, I got you.' And I said, 'Yeah, Vince, you got me.' And the players started laughing, and that was it." SportsNet

Toronto Raptors, Vince Carter, Morris Peterson, Jalen Rose, Sam Mitchell 

"Consider the source. You know what blows my mind? And I don't attack people because I try to take the high road, but consider where it's coming from," Mitchell pointed out. "Where in this person's history are the things that he said true? You are talking about a person who played at a university whose record has been expunged. And for what? Lying and cheating. Right? "You spent your entire career in the NBA making a lot of money, but you never quite lived up to your potential as a player," Mitchell said of Rose. "Now you're on TV and you get to say these things. First of all, we need to stop believing that everybody on TV is credible and (that) everybody you hear in the media is credible." SportsNet

Toronto Raptors, Jalen Rose, Sam Mitchell 

John Schuhmann: Sam Mitchell speaking truth on NBA TV: If he doesn't commit, you have to trade him. Twitter

Orlando Magic, Trade, Sam Mitchell, Dwight Howard 

Former NBA player and coach Sam Mitchell announced he will be hosting a new radio talk show, called "Time Out With Sam Mitchell" Friday evening during a press conference and meet and greet for fans at Buffalo Wild Wings in Columbus. The show is scheduled to debut Feb. 13 from the show's home studio at 1460 Fox sports radio. Mitchell said the show will address several subject areas, including news, sports and entertainment. The show will air Monday through Friday from 3-5pm and also be streamed live on foxsportsradio1460.com Ledger-Enquirer

Media, Sam Mitchell 

Sam Mitchell, who had been an assistant last season, will be re-assigned to scouting duties this season. Carlesimo, the former Seton Hall coach, and former Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers head coach, will be Johnson's lead assistant, sitting next to Johnson and providing insight into the game coaching. Elie, a former teammate of Johnson's with the San Antonio Spurs who served as an assistant coach for him in Dallas, will be working with the guards, among other duties. "I’ve known (Johnson) for a long time," Carlesimo said. "I did not like playing against him or coaching against him. he’s a good friend. We had a conversation a couple of years ago: ‘If the opportunity was ever there, would I be interested?’ Of course, I said, ‘Yes.’ At that time, I never dreamt it would be here. I think that was significant. My like or respect for the Nets goes way, way back — to Teaneck, the Island Garden, the Nassau Coliseum, the Meadowlands and the whole spectrum. Newark Star-Ledger

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Sam Mitchell, PJ Carlesimo 

The names I’ve heard are the leading candidates to join Avery Johnson’s staff are P.J. Carlesimo and Mario Elie – both of whom have relationships with Johnson. As we’ve written before Sam Mitchell probably won’t be back. But the Nets won’t do anything with their staff until the lockout is settled. Tom Barrise, Popeye Jones and Doug Overton return, of course. Bergen Record

New Jersey Nets, Avery Johnson, Popeye Jones, Coaching, Sam Mitchell, Mario Elie 

The Nets haven't replaced Sam Mitchell on Avery Johnson's bench yet, waiting for the end of the lockout to make formal offers. But word is they'd very much like to talk to Kings assistant Mario Elie, Johnson's former teammate on the first Spurs' championship team and one of Elie's best friends in basketball. The Nets may also look at former Warriors coach Keith Smart. NBA.com

New Jersey Nets, Avery Johnson, Coaching, Sam Mitchell, Keith Smart, Mario Elie 

The labor negotiations are faltering, but that hasn't stopped the Nets from shaking up their coaching staff. Top assistant Sam Mitchell is unlikely to return next season, according to a source, leaving open a spot at the front of the bench for ex-Seton Hall coach P.J. Carlesimo. New York Daily News

New Jersey Nets, Avery Johnson, Coaching, Sam Mitchell 

The big question here is whether Kahn still has enough of Taylor’s confidence to make that call. Don’t count Sam Mitchell out. He still could be the next coach. But if he is, it’s Taylor who made the decision and it’ll tell you, with one year left on his contract, something about Kahn’s future with the franchise. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Sam Mitchell, David Kahn, Glen Taylor, Rick Adelman 

The Wolves brass worked for weeks to get Adelman to come in for more than a phone interview. If he wants the job, and they can agree on a salary, the job is probably his. The salary would probably have to be around $5 million per year. Adelman joins Don Nelson and Sam Mitchell, likely, as the team's top candidates. The 65-year-old Adelman has taken time off during his career, and the thought is he might want to take another year off to spend time with his family. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Sam Mitchell, Don Nelson, Rick Adelman 

Everybody in the league I have talked with in recent weeks would be more than surprised, though, if Adelman agrees to coach the Wolves. If he declines, the Wolves then will move ahead with the process and probably choose either Nelson or Mitchell for the job. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Sam Mitchell, Don Nelson, Rick Adelman 

Jerry Zgoda: Sam Mitchell declined to discuss Monday's interview w/ #Timberwolves other than saying it went well, but he sounded relaxed and confident Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Sam Mitchell 

Former Timberwolves player Sam Mitchell will meet Monday with club owner Glen Taylor and president of basketball operations David Kahn to discuss the team's vacant head coaching position, according to a person with knowledge of the team's search to replace Kurt Rambis. Mitchell, 47, is an assistant with the New Jersey Nets. He was NBA coach of the year in 2006-07 when he led Toronto to a 47-35 record and the team's first playoff berth in five years. Mitchell, who played 10 of his 13 NBA seasons with the Wolves, coached Toronto for four years before he was fired 17 games into the 2007-08 season after the team's 8-9 start. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Sam Mitchell