We are just a few weeks away from the highly anticipated NBA All-Star Game and the teams have come into focus.
We know that Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers will serve as team captains.
We also know that athletes such as Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, and Nikola Jokic are set to play in the game.
There will be many other surprises – and snubs – related to the game and the major events around it in the weeks ahead.
Now we know which NBA coach will be leading one of the teams.
Boston Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla and staff will coach Team Giannis at the All-Star game.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 31, 2023
Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics is set to coach Team Giannis at the game in Salt Lake City on the 19th.
This is a huge achievement for Mazzulla for a number of reasons.
Firstly, it’s just always a major honor for any coach to be selected to lead an All-Star team.
This shows the sort of respect he has earned throughout the league.
Secondly, this is Mazzulla’s first year as a head coach.
It’s very rare for a rookie coach to get this job.
Thirdly, Mazzulla is still technically the interim coach for the Celtics, meaning he isn’t even the official head coach of the team.
To be fair, that last point seems moot.
The conventional wisdom is that there is no way Ime Udoka is going to come back and get his job.
Most everyone agrees it will be Mazzulla’s next season and the years beyond.
Mazzulla has had quite the year, rising from the ranks of assistant to head coach to the leader of an All-Star team.
He really is one of the biggest rising stars of the league.
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