When Sam Cassell was playing his first two NBA (National Basketball Association) seasons, he demonstrated a significant role in the back to back championship teams of the Houston Rockets. In 1993-94, when he was a rookie, he attained rank no. 4 in the team in course of the playoffs in the number of three-pointers and assists completed. On completion of Cassell’s 3rd season with the Houston Rockets, the team traded him to Phoenix Suns with the intention to gain Charles Barkley, who was then an aging star. Thus, began a wandering odyssey of Cassell around the league.

During the 1996-97 season, Cassell played for three teams – the Phoenix Suns, the Dallas Mavericks and the New Jersey Nets. The 1997-98 season was Cassell’s singular full season with the Nets. In this season, he had an average of 19.6 points per game (he was ranked 16th in the NBA) and 8 assists per game (he was ranked 10th in the NBA). Due to this performance, he was regarded as an All-Star caliber player. In the 1999 season, he was shipped by the Nets to Milwaukee Bucks. Here, he assisted his team to enter the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals. During his four seasons with the Bucks, he had an average ranging from 18.2 points per game to 19.7 points per game. In the year 2000, he recorded 9 assists per game and was ranked 3rd in the league. In the year 2001, he managed 7.6 assists per game and was ranked 8th in the league.

Further, he was traded to Minnesota Timberwolves who were on the lookout of finding suitable players around Kevin Garnett. Latrell Sprewell and Cassell complemented the game of Garnett and the team progressed to the 2004 Western Conference Finals. This was the best NBA season for Cassell as he was ranked 10th in Most Valuable Player voting.