“There’s nothing better than representing the Celtics and being a part of history.” This is how Joe Mazzulla commented on his first NBA championship title. At 35, he is the youngest coach to become NBA champion since Bill Russell in 1969. A beautiful nod to history.
The craziest thing, perhaps, is that Joe Mazzulla had never coached professionally before taking over from Ime Udoka 21 months ago. His only experience as a head coach was in the NCAA Division II at the head of Fairmont State. But it was written that he would one day take the reins of the Celtics.
An exceptional record after two seasons
A native of Rhode Island, an hour from Boston, he had first been an assistant in the G-League with the franchise affiliated with the Celtics then, after two years at Fairmont State, Brad Stevens went looking for him to offer him a position as a assistant. It’s 2019 and he’s only 30 years old.
Five years later, he became the 7th coach in Boston history to win a title, joining Red Auerbach, Bill Russell, Tom Heinsohn, Bill Fitch, KC Jones and Doc Rivers.
Since taking the reins of the Celtics, he has a record of 148 wins and 54 losses, including the playoffs. Which gives a winning percentage of 73%. Few coaches before him (Steve Kerr, Phil Jackson) have done better in history after 200 matches and dust-ups. But Joe Mazzulla never puts himself forward. Like when he won his first Coach of the Month trophy. ” Nobody cares “ he replied to Derrick White who congratulated him.
“The greatest gift for a coach is a group of players who want to be coached, who want to be led and who take charge,” he said last week. “At the end of the day, you have to enjoy being in an environment where learning and training are important, and where it’s important to improve and develop. You can’t be a good coach if your players won’t let you. »
Passing on the legacy of a legendary franchise
Very close to his players, and even younger than Al Horford, Joe Mazzulla cultivates his relaxation. He wants to remain himself, and we will never see him in a suit on a bench. It is not him. What he wants, quite simply, is to do what he loves: training and training players. But also receive and transmit.
“We have very few opportunities in life to be someone great and we have very few opportunities in life to pass on the ownership and responsibility of these banners, and of all the great personalities and all the great players who have been here”, concluded Joe Mazzulla. “When you have few opportunities in life, you have to take the bull by the horns and make it your own. And our guys did it.”
2024-06-18 04:46:10
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