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Brad Stevens places support in Boston Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla

By Richard Pereira

Brad Stevens is under pressure to find low-cost talent for the Boston Celtics, but is he up for the challenge and capable of getting the Cs that talent? (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Brad Stevens is under pressure to find low-cost talent for the Boston Celtics, but is he up for the challenge and capable of getting the Cs that talent? (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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As the Boston Celtics begin the recovery process following the suspension of head coach Ime Udoka for the 2022-23 season, President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens is ready to move forward by placing his support in interim head coach Joe Mazzulla.

Stevens made his thoughts known at a media press conference Friday afternoon, answering questions alongside team owner Wyc Grousbeck about Udoka’s suspension and Mazzulla’s qualifications in coaching the team:

"“It’s not easy timing for him or the rest of the staff, but he’s an exceptionally sharp and talented person. I believe strongly in him in his ability to lead people, his ability to galvanize the room.”"

Mazzulla began his time in Boston in 2019 under Stevens when he was head coach and stayed as an assistant coach under Udoka, helping the team make the Eastern Conference Finals in 2020 and the NBA Finals last season.

According to ESPN Stats and Information research, Mazzulla became the youngest coach at the age of 34 to take over a team that reached the NBA Finals last season since Lawrence Frank replaced Byron Scott to coach the New Jersey Nets in the 2003-04 season.

Reporters at the conference brought up Mazzulla’s prior history when he had two arrests during his college years in the University of West Virginia. The first occurred in 2008 when police arrested him for underage drinking and aggravated assault, a case in which he pled guilty for. The second happened in 2009 when he made a settlement outside of court following a domestic battery incident.

Boston Celtics interim HC Joe Mazzulla has Brad Stevens’ support despite troubled past

Despite his past record, Stevens assured the media he vetted Mazzulla as best he could when he hired him during the 2018-19 campaign:

"“I believe strongly in Joe’s substantiveness as a person. He’s been very open with me about how those moments impacted him in every which way and you can see it in the way he carries himself. He’ll be the first to tell you, he’s 110 percent accountable for that, and I’ll be the first to tell you that I believe in him.”"

Even with Udoka’s suspension, center Robert Williams’ recovery timetable from knee surgery of eight to 12 weeks, and forward Danilo Gallinari’s ACL surgery keeping him out for most of the season, the Boston Celtics seek to follow up on the success they had last season by remaining title contenders in their quest for Banner 18. If successful, they will have done it with Mazzulla at the helm, and that would be a remarkable response to this rough week for the franchise.

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