Latest Joe Mazzulla quote will make Celtics fans love him even more

Joe Mazzulla has been known to deliver head-turning responses at the postgame podium during his time as the head coach of the Boston Celtics. It’s kind of his thing. So, his response when asked about his decision to challenge Jaylen Brown’s sixth and final foul in Thursday’s 120-106 win over the Sacramento Kings came as no surprise.

"I really just kinda wanted to hear Billy Kennedy,” Mazzulla told reporters in Sacramento. “He does a really great challenge, and we were gonna do it anyway just to kinda hear him deliver the challenge."

Mazzulla truly is one of us.

Referee Bill Kennedy has become a household name for NBA fans over the past few seasons because of his charismatic explanations when a coach challenges a call while he’s officiating.

Simply put, Kennedy always makes for tremendous theater. His delivery always includes a healthy mix of sarcasm, animation, and comedic timing.

Just last week, he delivered this classic during Boston’s win over the Indiana Pacers.

The clip went viral. Celtics fans, as well as Drew Carter and Brian Scalabrine, enjoyed the little monologue from the head official.

Apparently, Mazzulla enjoyed it too -- at least enough to acknowledge it in the postgame presser. Now, whether or not he actually thought he’d get Brown’s sixth foul overturned is another story. Maybe he had some hope, but knew he wouldn’t be walking away from the challenge empty-handed.

Bill Kennedy is having a moment

Hoops enthusiasts have been enjoying Kennedy quite a bit over the past week. His explanation of an unsuccessful challenge late in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s Memphis Grizzlies vs. Philadelphia 76ers game was a hit online.

This is just one of many clips that have gone viral of Kennedy on the mic. One of his best came last year, when announcing a handful of technical fouls in a Phoenix Suns vs. Houston Rockets matchup.

He masterfully played off the Phoenix crowd’s reaction as he listed the players who had been hit with techs, even taking a long pause before informing the fans that Dillon Brooks’ night was over as he’d been ejected.

The theatrics don’t stop there, either. Every once in a while, Kennedy gets deep in his bag and will give the fans a physical performance -- like this miming of Michael Porter Jr.’s travel earlier this season.

Still can't get enough? Here's a nice little compilation of more of Kennedy's greatest hits.