Being an NBA head coach is a very stressful job, and it can cause one to age rapidly and even question whether they want to continue doing what they do.
Coaching is especially stressful when one is at the helm of the Boston Celtics, one of the most successful teams in the history of any sport, as Joe Mazzulla has been since the start of last season.
Some coaches may allow themselves to be bothered by the criticism and rumors that come with such a job, but per the Celtics’ official Twitter account, Mazzulla has found some levity.
“I’ve grown to absolutely endear it and love it. I think it’s beautiful,” he said.
Joe Mazzulla says of handling the outside noise of being our coach, “I’ve grown to absolutely endear it and love it. I think it’s beautiful … You just can’t take yourself too serious. You should laugh at yourself. You should also laugh at other people.”
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 14, 2024
Mazzulla was given the job during the 2022 offseason after Ime Udoka, Boston’s previous head coach, was suspended for the 2022-23 campaign after he was allegedly involved in what the organization called an inappropriate relationship with a team employee.
It came just months after the Celtics came two wins away from a world championship, yet Mazzulla was able to stabilize the team and get it to the Eastern Conference Finals, where it overcame a 3-0 deficit to force a Game 7 at home versus the Cinderella Miami Heat.
Despite having massive gusts of wind at their backs, the Celtics were embarrassed in Game 7, scoring just 84 points and getting blown out.
They made major changes last summer, trading Marcus Smart and Robert Williams III while bringing in Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, and those moves have resulted in them forging the NBA’s best record thus far this season.
In the end, the only thing that will silence the noise Mazzulla has dealt with and render him a made man is to guide the Celtics to the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
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