BOSTON — The coaching world has never been more cutthroat. The Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor Jenkins mere weeks before the start of the playoffs. The Denver Nuggets let Michael Malone (and Calvin Booth) go days before. But Brad Stevens doesn’t seem to be considering the same level of change when it comes to Joe Mazzulla’s status as the head coach of the Boston Celtics.
“We're lucky that we have Joe here, we're lucky that we have the staff we have here, and we're thankful,” Stevens said at his end-of-season press conference in Boston on Monday afternoon. Mazzulla’s Celtics were eliminated in the second round by the New York Knicks amidst their quest to repeat as NBA Champions.
This marked his third season in the lead seat on the Boston bench.
Brad Stevens loves Michael Malone and Taylor Jenkins
Stevens, who coached the Celtics from 2013 to 2021, had a huge smirk on his face as he spoke about the current state of uncertainty in the coaching world.
“Yeah, Joe's great. Joe's done a great job,” Stevens said. “I don't think anyone in coaching ever thought it was certain. So, I think uncertainty is what you signed up for in some ways.
“But listen, there [are] so many things that go into winning and losing, and coaching is part of it, right? But playing, circumstances, injuries, whatever the case may be, there [are] so many things. And so that's why I think it's so important to, like, I know how hard their jobs are.”
As for Malone and Jenkins, in particular, Stevens’ delivered the highest praise possible.
“And I've felt for Taylor and for Mike,” he said. “And obviously, talked to both of them. But every year, good coaches get let go. And they're way better than everybody talks about them. I'm just telling you because I coached against them. They're way better than everybody thinks or knows.
“But that's the reality of our situation, because that's the way the world works. And then, there [are] other coaches that are really good, too, [who] will get their opportunities.”
Joe Mazzulla’s status with the Celtics
Based on everything Stevens said, it sounds like Mazzulla’s job is safe right now. Stevens understands how difficult coaching can be in the NBA better than most, especially when it comes to winning at the highest level.
And Mazzulla, despite being the one in the potential hot seat, gets it, too.
“If you're gonna be coaching for a long time, you're gonna have a lot more heartbreaks than you are joyful moments, if you look at the perspective,” said Mazzulla. “That's just how it goes. When you step into the arena and you go after something, that's how it goes. It has nothing to do with the weight of it or anything. Most coaches, the ratio of heartbreak to success, at the end of the year, you'll probably have more of those.
“If you’re going to be in it for a long time, you can’t expect it to go your way, you can’t expect it to go the way you want it all the time. That’s just part of it, and you have to be able to expect both of those things. That’s the arena.”
So far, Mazzulla has won a championship every third year he’s been the head coach of the Celtics. Not a bad ratio.