Celtics HC Joe Mazzulla explains why he avoids friendly interactions with

 

 

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla on Friday stayed true to his reputation as the most locked-in coach in the NBA.

Mazzulla spoke to reporters ahead of the Celtics’ Saturday home game against the Toronto Raptors. He spoke openly about avoiding friendly interactions with opposing coaches, believing it could give them a “psychological” edge.

The 36-year-old coach pointed to a recent interaction with former Celtics assistant Charles Lee, who left Mazzulla’s staff in the offseason to join the Charlotte Hornets. With a straight face, Mazzulla explained how Lee managed to weaponize a simple hug in the locker room.

 

 

“I told Charles [Lee], when he left, ‘I’m not talking to you during the season. I’m not waving to you during

the national anthem, I’m just not doing that.’ … So he breached NBA rules and came into the assistant

coach’s locker room and forced me to give him a hug. That could easily be a psychological tell that knocks

you off your game competitively. So he knew what he was doing.”

 

The scrum of reporters laughed while Mazzulla told his story. But the Celtics coach did not even let out a smirk to suggest he was joking in the slightest.

Where Mazzulla ranks among the NBA’s best active coaches remains up for debate. But what isn’t is Mazzulla’s place as the most quotable coach in the association.

Mazzulla’s mindset obviously works given the championship ring already in his trophy cabinet. Look no further than his off-kilter message to Jayson Tatum in the offseason which has already seemed to pay dividends for the Celtics early in the year.