Newsletter
Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Reading: NBA Insider Reveals The Reason Why The Celtics Named Joe Mazzulla As Their Interim Head Coach
Fadeaway WorldFadeaway World
Search
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Follow US
Home > NBA News & Analysis > NBA Insider Reveals The Reason Why The Celtics Named Joe Mazzulla As Their Interim Head Coach

NBA Insider Reveals The Reason Why The Celtics Named Joe Mazzulla As Their Interim Head Coach

NBA insider Jeff Goodman reveals what was the key to the Boston Celtics naming Joe Mazzulla as their interim head coach.

Gautam Varier
Dec 4, 2022
3 Min Read
Share

Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

At the start of 2022, absolutely nobody had the Boston Celtics going to the NBA Finals, but head coach Ime Udoka masterminded a spectacular turnaround, and they nearly ended up winning it all. Udoka then got embroiled in a scandal that saw him get suspended for the 2022-23 season, and some wondered if the Celtics might be in trouble without him.

That hasn’t been the case at all, as the team currently boasts the best record in the NBA at 18-5 under the stewardship of interim head coach Joe Mazzulla. It has been an incredible start to Mazzulla’s career as the man at the helm, as he was announced as Eastern Conference coach of the month for October/November recently by the NBA.


NBA Insider Reveals Why The Celtics Named Joe Mazzulla As Their Interim Head Coach

Mazzulla had been with the Celtics as an assistant since 2019 and was the only coach on Brad Stevens’ staff who was retained when Udoka came in. The Celtics clearly thought very highly of him, but the reason they decided to give him the role is because of Jayson Tatum, as per NBA insider Jeff Goodman.

(starts at 4:36 mark):

“Tatum was the key to Mazzulla from the sources I’ve talked to. It was Tatum who basically went to bat for Mazzulla. Then when Tatum goes to bat, it’s a whole lot easier for those other guys to go to bat. Ime was Marcus Smart’s guy, so that was a tough one. We saw some of the comments that Marcus had afterward, and I’m sure he was upset and I think they all liked Ime but when Tatum, your best player, goes to bat for you, everybody kind of falls in line, and then you have success, and now it’s like, ‘You know what? This is working!'”

Getting the star player behind you is the key to success for any coach, and if Goodman is right with this report, then Mazzulla is pretty much a lock to get the full-time job at some point in the future. He has given the Celtics no reason to look elsewhere either with this hot start, and he’ll be hoping to go one step further than Udoka.

As for Tatum, he has been excellent under Mazzulla, and Paul Pierce said that he is better than Kevin Durant, which is a bold claim. Tatum also recently spoke on whether he and Jaylen Brown are the best duo in the NBA as they continue to shine for the Celtics.

We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.

Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

TAGGED:Boston Celtics Archive
Share This Article
Facebook Email Copy Link Print
ByGautam Varier
Follow:
Gautam Varier is a staff writer and columnist for Fadeaway World from Mumbai, India. He graduated from Symbiosis International University with a Master of Business specializing in Sports Management in 2020. This educational achievement enables Gautam to apply sophisticated analytical techniques to his incisive coverage of basketball, blending business acumen with sports knowledge.Before joining Fadeaway World in 2022, Gautam honed his journalistic skills at Sportskeeda and SportsKPI, where he covered a range of sports topics with an emphasis on basketball. His passion for the sport was ignited after witnessing the high-octane offense of the Steve Nash-led Phoenix Suns. Among the Suns, Shawn Marion stood out to Gautam as an all-time underrated NBA player. Marion’s versatility as a defender and his rebounding prowess, despite being just 6’7”, impressed Gautam immensely. He admired Marion’s finishing ability at the rim and his shooting, despite an unconventional jump shot, believing that Marion’s skill set would have been even more appreciated in today’s NBA.This transformative experience not only deepened his love for basketball but also shaped his approach to sports writing, enabling him to connect with readers through vivid storytelling and insightful analysis.
Previous Article NBA Rumors: Kawhi Leonard And Paul George Could Be Close To Returning To The Clippers
Next Article Lamar Odom Says Anthony Davis Is More Skilled Than Giannis Antetokounmpo
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Newsletter
Facebook X-twitter Instagram

You Might Also Like

Golden State Warriors News & Analysis

Seth Curry Admits He Didn’t Want To Team Up With Stephen Curry Until Now

October 3, 2025
Sep 29, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets player Nikola Jokic (15) takes questions during media day at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Denver Nuggets News & Analysis

Nikola Jokic Remains Loyal To The Nuggets Despite Not Signing An Extension This Summer

October 3, 2025
Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) controls the ball in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
NBA News & Analysis

Kendrick Perkins Claims Russell Westbrook Has Been Blackballed By The NBA

October 3, 2025
Sep 29, 2025; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) poses for a photo during the Mavericks 2025 media day at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Dallas Mavericks News & Analysis

Cooper Flagg Shares How He Can Impact Winning; Sets Expectations For Rookie Season

October 3, 2025

NBA - Fadeaway World

  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Boston Celtics
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Charlotte Hornets
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Denver Nuggets
  • Detroit Pistons
  • Golden State Warriors
  • Houston Rockets
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Los Angeles Clippers
  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Miami Heat
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • New York Knicks
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Orlando Magic
  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • Sacramento Kings
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Utah Jazz
  • Washington Wizards

Pages

  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA Media
  • Exclusive NBA Interviews
  • NBA 2K News & Updates

© 2025 Fadeaway World @ All Rights Reserved

  • About Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World Authors
  • Editorial Team
  • Ethics Policy
  • Corrections Policy
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Contact Us
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?