Boston Celtics: 15-year NBA vet wanted in on Joe Mazzulla’s coaching staff
While it is not clear whether or not there is interest for either party, in just the past few months, 15-year NBA vet and college basketball all-time scorer at Duke, J.J. Redick, spoke with Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla about the former joining the latter’s coaching staff.
On “The Old Man and the Three Podcast” with Tommy Alter, co-host J.J. Redick revealed that the two spoke around the time the whole Ime Udoka suspension situation transpired over a game of golf (transcript via NBC Sports Boston):
"“The Ime (Udoka) thing happens, that’s on a Thursday. I happened to be going up to Boston that weekend to see a high school friend. … One thing leads to another, Sunday morning of that weekend, I’m playing golf with Joe, talking about joining your staff.”"
Redick added some praise for someone he may still be looking to work for, because who wouldn’t want to be apart of the current Boston Celtics coaching staff that’s overperforming following the sudden exit of their Eastern Conference championship-winning coach from a season ago?
"“He has done a remarkable job for where you guys were, coming off the pressure situation with Ime (Udoka). He has stepped in and it seems like it’s been pretty seamless, particularly the improvement on offense.”"
The Boston Celtics are ahead of schedule despite Warriors loss
Without Robert Williams III and Danilo Gallinari — who may end up sticking around considering the bad look for future free agents it’d be to trade him — the Boston Celtics are still in elite territory offensively. Joe Mazzulla’s coaching job here in 2022-23 cannot be overstated.
‘The Timelord’ gives you elite efficiency at the rim, and Gallinari provides three-level shot-creation, so once they get back, Boston can be judged in how they’ll fare in a postseason series. Should Gallo never return and Williams be hampered by his injuries all year, the team as is should still be fine in the playoffs’ early rounds.
Where they’ll end up is still months down the line, though. Where we can see they are now is inspiring to say the least.