"Cavs guard Mo Williams credits coach Jerry Sloan and the Utah Jazz with starting his career off right.

A second-round draft choice of the Jazz, the 47th pick in 2003, Williams played just one season in Utah, but it was a beneficial one for a rookie learning how to play in the NBA.

"I learned the game," Williams said. "That's a system that teaches you how to be a hard-nosed player. Obviously you're going to get that trait from Jerry. . . .

"My time there was great. I always give Jerry Sloan and Phil [longtime assistant coach Phil Johnson] the utmost respect. I love those guys. They started my career off right. I couldn't have gone to a better place to learn how to play this NBA game, learn work ethic, learn how to work hard and compete. I'm very glad for that opportunity.

"Unfortunately, it was only one year, but I learned a lot in that year. That year has gotten me to where I am today -- learning the game inside out, learning how to be a professional."

Sloan has said the Jazz made a mistake not matching the free-agent offer Milwaukee made to Williams before his second year, but it's hard to argue with how things turned out for Utah. A year later, the Jazz took Deron Williams with the third pick in the 2005 draft, and he has dominated Mo Williams ever since. In eight head-to- head matchups, Deron Williams has outscored Mo Williams by an average of 17.0-11.8 and has outshot him, 42 percent to 31.6 percent. Deron Williams has averaged 9.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds in those eight games, while Mo Williams has averaged 5.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds."