The first time Wyc Grousbeck really got to know Joe Mazzulla, he came away impressed.
Since then, his admiration of the coach has not wavered.
Mazzulla had the interim tag removed from his title this week, with the Celtics officially naming him their head coach. He has taken over this season in place of Ime Udoka, who the team cut ties with in naming Mazzulla the head coach.
Things could have fallen apart for the Celtics after Udoka was suspended just before training camp started, but instead Mazzulla has only helped them grow. Keeping him for the long haul was a no-brainer.
Grousbeck said Friday on “The Greg Hill Show” that one dinner in Milwaukee was all he needed to see how special Mazzulla is.
“He’s confident, he’s strong,” Grousbeck said. “I first got to know him at a dinner, I just sat and had a dinner on the road in Milwaukee last year during the playoffs. … I just was amazed by him at that first dinner. Just how intense he is, how humble he is, how much he wants to soak things in. He’s got a lot to teach, but he’s all about learning.
“He’s an amazing guy. He’s a really different guy with a lot of great qualities. He’s not just run of the mill, he’s very special.”
The 34-year-old has drawn rave reviews so far, and the Celtics certainly are hoping this is just the beginning of sustained success under him.
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