It’s All Star Weekend in the NBA and basketball’s biggest stars are gathering in Salt Lake City for the annual NBA showcase. This year, that includes Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the Celtics coaching staff, led by newly named head coach Joe Mazzulla. Here are five things to know about the coach, who has led the Celtics to a hot start in his few months serving as interim head coach.
The Celtics named Mazzulla the interim head coach after the organization suspended Ime Udoka, who had just led the C’s to an NBA Finals appearance in his first year as head coach. Udoka’s suspension came after he allegedly had an improper relationship with someone within the Celtics organization. While any sudden move can create challenges for a team, the fact that it took place right before the start of training camp could not have helped the situation.
There are probably better ways to start leading a team than under the shadow of a scandal, but Mazzulla and the Celtics didn’t miss a beat. The team has stormed to a 42-17 record so far—the best in the NBA overall. He was also named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for games played in October and November for guiding the C’s to an 18-4 record.
