Joe Mazzulla He has been the head coach of the United States for just over a year. Boston Celtics. In his first season in charge, the 36-year-old became one of the youngest in history to win the NBA championship. Furthermore, he did it without prior experience. But in addition to his tactics and coaching, he has also left us with statements to remember.
Joe Mazzulla’s best statements:
On Charles Lee looking to give him a hug before a game:
“I told Charles when he left, ‘I’m not going to talk to you during the season. I’m not going to salute you during the national anthem. I’m not going to. You’re an enemy.’
Then, he violated NBA rules and entered the assistant coaches’ locker room, forcing me to give him a hug. That could easily be a psychological gesture that destabilizes you competitively. “I knew what I was doing.”
On the idea of a “transfer system” in the NBA, as in European soccer:
“It’s a good system. You get a player on loan, which avoids situations where you have to include someone in a transfer even though you still believe in him. You could loan him.”
On expanding the NBA Cup:
“I’m sure every sport wants a version of another, but I think it’s very interesting in soccer, and even in basketball outside of the United States, where you play in three leagues at the same time. For example, Tuesday is a game cup and on Saturday, one of the local league. That change of mentality and balance is very fun.”
On wanting the possibility of fighting in the NBA to return:
“What we steal the most from the public from an entertainment point of view is that you can no longer fight. I would like the fight to return.
I don’t understand why some sports can empty the benches. They have bats and guns, we don’t. We only have one ball. “In other sports they have very hard surfaces and objects like pucks and sticks, and we can’t ‘throw ourselves a little’.”
On the pressure the Celtics face:
“Zero. No pressure. We’ll all be dead soon, and it won’t matter anymore, so no pressure.
Nothing anyone in this circle does can affect my identity or who I am as a person or coach. Whether we win or not, and in 40 years, none of you will be invited to my funeral. And that’s all.”
About Prince William and Kate Middleton at a Celtics game:
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph? I only know one royal family. I don’t know much about that other one.”
On having a “white on the forehead” after winning the 2024 championship:
“People will say the target is on our back, but I hope it’s right in our forehead, between our eyes. I hope to see the red dot.”
