After controversy, speculation, and then great success, the Boston Celtics have officially decided who will lead the team into the future.
As we all know, Joe Mazzulla is technically the interim coach for the squad and moved into that role after the one-year suspension of coach Ime Udoka.
But that all changed on Thursday morning.
Joe Mazzulla is officially the 19th Head Coach in franchise history 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/LMcTLS1u0m
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 16, 2023
The Celtics announced that Mazzulla is now the team’s official coach, dropping the interim title and stepping into the position he has earned.
To make things even more official, the Celtics have given Mazzulla a contract extension as well.
Back in September, Mazzulla took on the interim position after Udoka was suspended for multiple violations of team rules related to having inappropriate relationships with staffers.
At the time, many people wondered what sort of success Mazzulla would find.
The team was coming off of a terrific 2021-22 season when they made it all the way to the NBA Finals.
Was there any chance that Mazzulla would lead the team to as many wins as last season?
Right off the bat, the Celtics had a great start and currently lead the league with a 42-17 record.
According to ESPN, the team also has the NBA’s third-best offensive rating and the fourth-best defensive rating too, the only team that is in the top five in both categories.
Mazzulla has been a part of the Celtics organization for years now, joining their G League affiliate as an assistant coach back in 2016.
He has had various jobs in and out of the Boston orbit but took on the assistant coach position in 2019.
Now he has reached the top of the ladder and has the job he’s always dreamed of – and he’s obviously qualified for it.
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