'He Made Me a Better Coach': Joe Mazzulla's raw reaction to Jaylen Brown Trade

Las Vegas -- On the heels of the Sin City Celtics' first Summer League practice in the desert, Joe Mazzulla shared his thoughts on the seismic decision for Boston to break up its franchise cornerstones.

Brad Stevens shared his thoughts on why the Celtics traded Jaylen Brown earlier in the week. The fact that there's trust and confidence in the path this championship-driven organization has chosen doesn't mean this wasn't emotionally gut-wrenching.

The layers of this, from saying goodbye to a beloved figure and culture-setter, to sorting out how to maximize this new approach, can't be digested quickly. Not just because the latter is a never-ending process, but because of what Brown meant to those who filed for a divorce that wouldn't be happening in an ideal world.

"I think the reaction is just still processing it," said Mazzulla. "I think, obviously, when something like that happens, it's not a black-and-white type of thing. There's a ton of stuff that goes into it on and off the court. The part that I hope gets talked about more, and the part that we want to focus on the most, is really just the respect, the appreciation, and the gratitude for what he did for the Celtics for 10 years."

"And he was here before me. He set the tone and started that, and was a part of special things, and continued that, and obviously, was one of the biggest reasons why we were able to be as successful as we have done. So, that, to me, is what we have to focus on more: the respect as a competitor and the gratitude for what he's done."

For Joe Mazzulla, the Jaylen Brown trade was about trust, not input

When Mazzulla got thrown into the fire and was asked to become the NBA's youngest active head coach [34] as training camp was about to commence, his promotion put him at the helm of a team on the rise. Boston had just gone to the Finals. Now, he had to help take them to the mountaintop. That wouldn't have been the case if not for the Celtics' star wings. It wasn't just about their talent; it was about the standard of excellence they set for everyone in the building.

If Mazzulla didn't embody the same characteristics as Brown and Jayson Tatum, then he wouldn't have been the right person to help guide them to the NBA summit in his second year as their head coach. As that trio played their outsized roles in establishing, maintaining, and fortifying the team's culture, they made each other better.

It's a topic Mazzulla is reflecting on as he processes the end of an era.

"He made me a better coach. I know that for a fact," he stated. "The way he pushed me, the way he pushed himself, the way he pushed the locker room, he made me a better coach, and that's what you focus on."

That growth will be a part of the everlasting connection between two individuals at the forefront of why Boston has an 18th championship Banner hanging in the TD Garden rafters.

Someone else who deserves ample credit for that happening is the Celtics' front-office architect. Stevens knew the reaction this trade would receive. However, he stands firm in his belief that it was for the best. Between him, Mike Zarren, the organization's vice president of basketball operations and team counsel, and the rest of one of the top front offices in the Association, times like this require the most trust.

When a group has earned that and has multiple Executive of the Year awards on Stevens' resume, has conviction about the course it's charting, knowing how crucial it is to maximize Tatum's prime, it instills buy-in throughout a franchise that is aligned.

"Not input, just -- Brad comes to you and talks to you and gives you a breakdown and an understanding. And in moments like this, obviously, there's great alignment within the organization, and there's conversations that are always going to be had," voiced Mazzulla. "But I think in moments like this, this is where you just trust, you listen, you trust, and we have an understanding. And for what they do, I think Brad is the absolute best at what he does."

And while this was the most significant decision of Stevens' tenure, tests like that reveal how united a front an organization actually has. This group hasn't flinched or separated.
"I think when things happen like this, when it doesn't feel hard, is when you're not in it for the right reasons, and I think that's where Brad is one of the best at, and this organization has been one of the best at," expressed Mazzulla.

Whether they're successful or not, that statement captures an alignment that's paramount to completing the path to the Celtics' next championship.

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