Utah Jazz Star Deron Williams Discusses Jerry Sloan's Resignation, Downplays Rocky Relationship

Deron Williams made his first public comments since Jerry Sloan's resignation yesterday as the Utah Jazz's head coach, responding to reports that his supposed rocky relationship with Sloan helped push the coach into retirement. In an interview on KFAN 1320 in Utah, Williams said he was shocked that Sloan resigned, especially in the middle of the season. (Quotes via SB Nation's Jazz blog SLC Dunk).

On Sloan's resignation: It sucks.  I didn't think he would do it in the middle of the season

Williams also downplayed reports that he nearly came to blows with Sloan at halftime on Wednesday, Sloan's last game. He responded sarcastically, saying that "Chris Broussard and all those guys are obviously in our locker room every day, so they must be experts." More seriously, he did admit that he and Sloan have had "disagreements over the years," but said that's common in the NBA.

We're both competitive, we're both very stubborn, we both want to win    

Williams did end up concedeing that there was a disagreement at halftime, but said he's had worse ones with Sloan and that Sloan has had worse ones with other players. He later said point blank that he had nothing to do with Sloan's resignation and would never "force" Sloan out.

"I would never force coach Sloan out of Utah. He's given more to this town than I have, by far."