Joe Mazzulla Opens Up About Celtics Naming Him Head Coach: 'a Dream Come True'

At 42-17, the Celtics have the best record at the All-Star break by an NBA team with a rookie head coach in the last 50 years.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Mazzulla said he found out Tuesday, before the Celtics, down four starters, with their fifth, Robert Williams, playing only 12:57, nearly knocked off the Bucks in an overtime tilt, that his promotion to head coach was underway. Mazzulla relayed that the deal got finalized Wednesday night after Boston beat the Pistons, calling it "a dream come true."

Despite the turmoil surrounding the Celtics entering the current campaign, plus not having Robert Williams in the lineup until mid-December, and losing one of their top offseason acquisitions, Danilo Gallinari, likely for the season before it began, Boston sits atop the NBA standings with a 42-17 record.

It's the best record at the All-Star break by a team with a rookie head coach in the last 50 years. And it's why Mazzulla and the Celtics coaching staff are bound for Salt Lake City, Utah, where they'll coach Team Giannis in the All-Star Game.

On the heels of Brad Stevens explaining why the organization felt this was the right time to remove the interim tag from Mazzulla's title, the Johnston, Rhode Island native shared what's shaped his leadership style.

"I think my faith plays a huge role in my leadership style," conveyed Mazzulla, also citing the value of "whether it was middle school to high school to college to AAU...being able to watch really good coaches build relationships with players and learn how to build programs differently."

He also expressed, "since I've been here, I always knew exactly where I stood. I knew I was gonna get a fair shake. I knew I was gonna get an opportunity to coach this team in a way that I felt gives us the best chance to win."

And given what a whirlwind Mazzulla's experienced since getting named interim-head coach before the start of training camp, it's not easy to find balance between focusing on the task at hand and finding moments to appreciate the journey he's on.

To that point, Mazzulla stated, "just trying to balance the moments of focus and execution and the moments of gratitude and awareness," citing how special it was to be with his family looking out at the mountains in Utah, an opportunity for him to reflect.

But as Mazzulla put it, when the All-Star break ends, "it's back to work."

Further Reading

Brad Stevens Discusses Decision to Remove Interim Tag from Joe Mazzulla's Title: 'The Hardest Thing to Do Would Be Going into the Playoffs Looking Over Your Shoulder'

The Layers of the Celtics Naming Joe Mazzulla Head Coach

Jayson Tatum Shares His Reaction to Shorthanded Celtics Nearly Beating the Bucks

Celtics Discuss Marcus Smart's Return to the Lineup: 'I Think We Missed Him a Lot; We missed His Joy'

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Pistons: Hosts Don't Let History Repeat Itself

Grant Williams Reportedly Seeking Contract In the $20 Million Annually Range

Mike Muscala on Celtics Debut: 'a Blessing, it was Fun'

Celtics Reportedly 'Engaged' with Several Potential Buyout Candidates