This season, Jeff Teague moved to the Boston Celtics to play. This will be an opportunity for him to repay the kind of gratitude debt with his teacher Brad Stevens.
Moving to the Boston Celtics, veteran defender Jeff Teague played under the guidance of an old acquaintance coach Brad Stevens. The 32-year-old defender said he knew captain Celtics from when he was in high school and it was Stevens who saved his career and Teague’s life.
According to the former Atlanta Hawks player, before going to college, he went through a difficult time, almost neglecting his studies. Coach Brad Stevens understood that having a basketball talent alone would not help Jeff Teague go through the university doors.
“Back then I didn’t focus on studying, just playing basketball. When I was in my second year of high school, Brad called me to a classroom at Butler University. There, he gave my dad scores at school. I kept my family transcripts hidden for many years”.
“Brad told me: With scores like this, don’t dream of going to college to play basketball, have to improve. My father hasn’t seen the scores for many years, so he’s extremely angry. but I know what I need to do”, Jeff Teague told Celtics Insider.
He then received a scholarship from Wake Forest University, spent two years there before joining the NBA and was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the Draft period. So far, Jeff Teague has always been grateful for the actions of former Butler University coach.
“Every time I play against the Boston Celtics in the NBA, I tell Brad: Thank you for saving my life. He looked back at me and told me to shut up, whatever. But it was a moment very important to me, and I am very grateful to him”.
This year, Jeff Teague will be playing under the guidance of Brad Stevens. The 2015 All-Star player is out of contract with the Atlanta Hawks and will be playing the reserve role for Kemba Walker at TD Garden. Meanwhile, Stevens is looking for glory in his eighth season at the Boston Celtics.