With the advent of social media and wall-to-wall sports media coverage, there is more access to athletes than ever. In many cases, fans know what their favorite players are up to all offseason. In past years, Celtics fans have been able to keep up with Jaylen Brown’s exploits in various countries, Jayson Tatum’s time with Team USA and rehab process last summer, and many other goings-on with the roster.
But recently, we’ve also gotten a much more in-depth look at the head coach, Joe Mazzulla, and his life away from the team. We know all about his MMA fandom (and participation) and how he loves to visit and keep up with his players during the offseason.
Mazzulla learning from Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson
This time around, we’ve gotten another report about how Joe is honing his craft and staying sharp ahead of training camp. According to Brian Scalabrine on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Mazzulla has spent time with Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson this summer.
Scal mentioned that MJ told Joe, “‘The reason why I kept winning is because I acted like I never won’”. He further explained that the logic given was that if you act as if you’ve never done anything, you stay hungry and motivated, and that was Jordan’s message to Mazzulla.
We already know that Joe is a competitive psycho who is completely focused on winning, so it should come as no surprise that he sought out some of the greatest winners and competitors in the history of team sports.
I have no doubt that Joe will take this message to heart, and I’m sure he took a lot more away from these all-timers that he won’t be sharing publicly.
Mazzulla definitely has something to prove after the team’s last two playoff failures, but nobody can question the system he has built in Boston and his mindset. Brad Stevens obviously believes in his coach’s vision, as the moves he has made indicate that they are going to lean in even further towards Mazzulla-Ball.
Joe is constantly striving to get etter
The vote of confidence should come as no surprise for the reigning Coach of the Year and the man who led the Celtics to the 2024 title. Still, one championship in Boston is never going to be enough, and Joe knows that. It may be the offseason, but rest assured, he has been studying, working, and growing as a coach and a leader.
Meeting with Phil and MJ is just the latest example, and at the end of the day, who knows how much he can actually learn from them? But the point is more about Joe’s work ethic and how he is constantly doing everything he can to improve. It’s reflected in how the team plays on the court, their attention to detail, how they dominate the margins, and exploit every advantage.
It’s not like being around greatness can possibly be a bad thing either. Jordan is the greatest player who ever lived. And Phil is certainly on the short list for best coaches. If anyone can soak up some of that greatness and use it going forward, it’s Mazzulla. And I certainly wouldn’t want to bet against him.
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