When Joe Mazzulla was at NBC Sports activities Boston’s Media Day desk, he was requested if he was already recreation planning for this season whereas on the duck boats on the championship parade. He replied, “I imply, we have been chanting ‘protection!’, simply trigger I feel it’s an vital id to have and I feel that the identical stage of depth that the parade introduced is the extent of depth it’s essential to have all through a season so there may be positively a connection there. That’s vital.”
He was lifeless critical — he didn’t giggle or smile as soon as throughout his reply.
Most coaches would have chuckled on the query and mentioned one thing generic like ‘yea, I used to be’ after which the host would have mentioned, ‘you’ll be able to by no means take your teaching hat off’ and the coach would have politely mentioned, ‘guess not.’
Not Joe Mazzulla, who tells you about how he was chanting “protection” — at a parade, not throughout a recreation, however at a parade — and the way the group must convey that very same depth to the season.
That is what I really like a lot about Mazzulla. He’s so unapologetically himself on a regular basis.
He was additionally requested if he loved the offseason at his press convention.
Joe Mazzulla: “I would not say I loved the offseason. I loved the parade.”
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) September 24, 2024
Now, you may make the argument that Joe ought to have loved the championship a bit extra this offseason, however then Joe wouldn’t be Joe.
All of us bear in mind Derrick White calling him a “sicko” throughout final yr’s Finals. At Media Day, it was Jayson Tatum giving us one other Mazzulla gem when speaking about being benched throughout the Olympics.
Jayson Tatum: “I talked to Joe lots. Joe was most likely the happiest particular person on the earth that I didn’t win Finals MVP and I didn’t play in two of the video games on the Olympics. That was odd. But when you realize Joe, it is smart.”
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) September 24, 2024
Joe Mazzulla is unorthodox and quirky. He marches to the beat of his personal drum. He doesn’t care what individuals say about him; he simply retains profitable and doing it his personal means.
That’s what makes Joe Mazzulla Joe Mazzulla.
Watch Mazzulla’s full presser from Media Day right here:
And his full sit-down with NBC Sports activities Boston right here: