St. John’s Coach Chris Mullin Presents Western Conference Trophy to Warriors

St. John’s coach Chris Mullin, a five-time NBA All-Star with the Golden State Warriors, presented the Western Conference Finals trophy to his old team in San Antonio on Monday night.

With their sweep of the Spurs, the Warriors became the first team ever to start the postseason 12-0 and will face the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals beginning June 1.

Mullin, 53, had been sidelined from recruiting last month after undergoing hip surgery and missed the first two live recruiting periods in April, as first reported by ZAGSBLOG.

The site of him in good spirits with his old team has to bode well for St. John’s on the recruiting front going forward this summer. Mullin is expected back on the road in July when St. John’s will focus on Class of 2018 targets such as shooting guard Luther Muhmmad of Hudson Catholic and center Moses Brown of Archbishop Molloy.

“His health is the most important thing and he’s getting that straight with getting the procedure done in early April,” St. John’s assistant Matt Abdelmassih said recently on The 4 Quarters Podcast. “He was really struggling this past year with his hip. He was in a lot of pain. I guess that’s what happens when you play at the level he played at for as many years as he did, just the wear and tear finally got to him.

“He has his good days and bad days. He’s slowly starting to move around, but he’s in good spirits and definitely on the road back to rehabbing and getting his body right.”

Chris Mullin is here for the Golden State Warriors Western Conference trophy presentation. pic.twitter.com/43T4YjCOur

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) May 23, 2017

Mullin and St. John’s are fresh off picking up a commitment from New York City wing Sid Wilson, whose father stressed the NBA experience of Mullin and assistant Mitch Richmond in his son’s decision.

“Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond, they bring a different element with that NBA experience and GM connection,” Sidney Wilson Sr. said. “They just got a plan for Sid, a three-year plan for him to get his degree and get him to the league.”

As for this year’s NBA playoffs, Mullin said he’s highly impressed with Steph Curry, whose team could face LeBron James and the Cavaliers for the third straight season in the Finals.

“Whatever amount of years I’ve watched the NBA, no one’s even close,” Mullin told the Mercury News of Curry’s historical heroism. “The impact he has just by being on the floor… When he crosses half court, the defense is reacting him. Off the dribble, setting screens, moving without the ball — it’s really amazing.”

He added: “It just proves how much time he puts in. The great, great, musicians, the great ballet dancers… It’s from repetition. It’s muscle memory. And this guy does the individual skill work. What makes it so special is he does the individual stuff and (works with the team, too).”