Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Imagine if this actually happened..

By Nick Delahanty

Feb 11, 2020; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams looks on during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2020; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams looks on during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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What if Roy Williams never returned to the UNC basketball program? If it was up to one NBA legend, Williams would’ve ended up in Boston.

There are always “What Ifs” in life.

In sports, these are often discussed as passionate fans talk about what could’ve been with their favorite teams. This is no different for fans of the UNC basketball program, as you have to think, “What if Roy Williams never returned to Chapel Hill?”

If it was up to NBA Hall of Famer Larry Bird, the script could’ve been very different.

After Bird’s illustrious career ended, he took on a role as a special assistant to team governor Paul Gaston. Before departing to take the Indiana Pacers head coaching position, Bird was asked to create a list of potential coaching candidates for the Celtics.

Boston ended up hiring Rick Pitino for the job, but he wasn’t the college coach that Bird wanted for the position.

"“I wanted (Roy) Williams so bad. He was the perfect guy. I envisioned him leading the Celtics to their next championship. But I knew he probably wouldn’t take the job for another four to five years.”"

Williams was still the head coach at Kansas then and was a few years from becoming the UNC basketball program’s leader. It’s interesting to note Bird’s timeline for Williams to take on another role, as it coincides with when he was named the head coach of the Tar Heels.

If Williams was named the Celtics’ head coach, do we ever see him return to Chapel Hill? How would that have affected the UNC basketball program, and quite frankly, does the program reach the levels of success without Williams’ guidance?

Of course, UNC basketball fans are thrilled with how it worked out, as Williams led the Tar Heels to 485 wins and three national championships over his 18 seasons at the helm.

If you put it into perspective, it’s crazy to think that if the Celtics listened to one of their biggest legends, history certainly could’ve been different not only for them but for the UNC basketball program as well.

Next. UNC Basketball: Theo Pinson once dunked over his mom. dark

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