Celtics Assistant Shares What They'll Miss from Coaching Staff Departures

Bobby Krivitsky | Jul 24, 2024

Mar 7, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) and assistant coach Charles Lee before the game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports / Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Last offseason, when Joe Mazzulla got his first chance to fill out his NBA coaching staff, he built one of the best in the Association. Most notably, that included the hiring of Sam Cassell and Charles Lee.

After helping the Celtics capture Banner 18, the latter is now with the Hornets, in the early stages of his first and long-deserved opportunity to become an NBA head coach.

Cassell, a finalist for the Lakers' vacancy that, as expected, went to JJ Redick, is staying in Boston in an elevated role. As Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe first reported, the Celtics also promoted Tony Dobbins, D.J. MacLeay, and Matt Reynolds.

While most of the coaching staff, like the reigning champions' roster, remains intact, Blaine Mueller and Jermaine Bucknor joined Lee in Charlotte.

The latter worked as a development coach for Boston before his promotion to an assistant in the Queen City. Mueller was the bench boss of the Maine Celtics, who reached the G League Finals this year.

From their work ethic to their ability to teach the game and connect with people to help get the most out of them, they both are excellent additions to Lee's staff.

In discussing their departures, MacLeay, who coached the Celtics Summer League squad, stated, "In terms of what we'll miss from those guys, Charles in particular, his positivity, his energy, his day-to-day."

He continued, "With Blaine, I think (we'll miss) his mind -- his mind for the game. He's a special thinker. Some of the things we did in the Finals were his ideas. So, he really is great about that.

"And then Buck, just in general, his spirit for learning. I think he -- from maybe anyone on our staff -- grew the most from start to finish last year. And I think it's really, really cool that he gets to go be an assistant coach with the Hornets. We're gonna miss him a lot."

Further Reading

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Celtics Rookie Anton Watson Shares Brad Stevens' Message to Him

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