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Joe Mazzulla on practicing ju-jitsu: Because I put myself in these situations with ju-jitsu, with training with him, I have to I put myself out there to the class or to the to the art in general. You're just putting yourself out there. That's what the players do every night. So it actually humbles me because by the time I get to them, I have a level of empathy for what they're going through. It helps me coach them better. It helps me understand. Helps me assess the environment better. But it humbles you because sometimes I now that I know what they're going through, I have to find a different way to hold them accountable. I got to find a more empathic way to hold them accountable at the same time.
Jordan Walsh told the Globe on Saturday that coach Joe Mazzulla, after the season, told him his role is uncertain because of the uncertainty of the roster. Now that the Celtics have lost Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kornet, and with Torrey Craig a free agent, there are available minutes for several positions, including the 3-and-D role Walsh is vying to fill. “Now that we’re closer to the season and we know what the roster will look like, I gotta revisit that conversation to see what I can do,” Walsh told the Globe. “If there’s something open for me, how do I maximize my opportunity, get to it, and take advantage.”
Joe Mazzulla: "I don’t want to come off as dark, but I think there’s a lot of lightness in the dark. I think a lot about the duality of life and death, and the decisions you make… the balance of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, and how that mirrors the rise and fall of dynasties, organizations, yourself, your family. I think about that probably 30 times a day— The duality of competition, what that means, your own mortality, and how to play your part in that while going after something."
Celtics want Hugo Gonzalez right away
A youth product of Real Madrid, Gonzalez made his professional debut in 2022 and became a regular for the senior team during the 2024-25 campaigns in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and domestic competitions in Spain. As widely expected, the 2025-26 season is extremely likely to be his first in the NBA. “Yeah,” Stevens replied to a question about looking to immediately add him to the team coached by Joe Mazzulla, during a post-draft press conference on Wednesday evening.
Bobby Krivistky: Asked about Joe Mazzulla’s contract, Brad Stevens stated Celtics’ desire to have him here for “a long time.” “Joe & I, first of all, keep any of those discussions in house. But we've got Joe under contract for multiple years right now, & so we certainly want Joe to be around here for a long time.”
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Brad Stevens on Joe Mazzulla: We want him around for a long time
Jay King: Brad Stevens was asked about a possible extension for Joe Mazzulla. Said Mazzulla is under contract for multiple years and the Celtics want him to be around for a long time.
Jordan Walsh on Joe Mazzulla: Uh, apparently Joe just did a jiu-jitsu match in Connecticut. And apparently—but he did a fight, an official fight. And we were talking about it, and I said, 'If you lose this fight, you lose so much respect in the community, in the locker room, and everything.' And so that was hilarious. Me, JB, and Joe were talking about it, and it was—it was Saturday, and I was like with Joe and JP, and I said, 'What would you rather do on a Saturday than watch Joe get choked out on the mat? Like, what else would you do?' And so everybody was like, 'You’ve got a good point. We should definitely watch this.' Unfortunately, I missed it, but I—I really—I haven’t seen him in the gym since, so it might be a bad sign. But I gotta definitely reach out to him and see how that went for sure."
Joe Mazzulla travels to Turkey to watch Nigel Hayes
After winning the first two games at home, Fenerbahce closed the series on the road in Game 3, winning 93-84 and sweeping 3-0 Bahcesehir to advance to the Turkish League Finals. Wade Baldwin and Metecan Birsen each scored 16 points to drag the reigning champs. Nigel Hayes-Davis finished with 10 points and 7 rebounds in front of Boston Celtics’ head coach Joe Mazzulla, who travelled to Turkiye to take a look at the American forward.
Bobby Manning: Mazzulla: "I didn't see something different. I saw something better ... we just ran into a great team in the 2nd round and they got the best of us." "(The players) went after it trying to achieve something extremely difficult."
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Joe Mazzulla on the Celtics responding with their backs against the wall in a tough situation: "You don't get to pick the tests that you have. You just pick how you respond to them. That's kind of how life works."
Joe Mazzulla on sitting Kristaps Porzingis in second half: He couldn't breathe
Bobby Manning: Joe Mazzulla on going with Luke Kornet over Kristaps Porzingis: "He couldn't breathe. He was available if absolutely necessary ... that was a decision between me and him." Said they've changed the lineup at half-time a lot this season. "I know KP will be ready for us."
Bobby Krivitsky: Joe Mazzulla to @johnkaralis.com on what Celtics focused on stylistically & what they must do best w/o Tatum: “You never want to be without any of your players, especially one of your best ones, but we’ve gotten plenty of reps at that. We have multiple identities at both ends of the floor.”
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