When Chris Boucher, whom the Celtics acquired in August, was baptized, Joe Mazzulla was there. When Jayson Tatum took his first steps in his recovery from a ruptured Achilles, Mazzulla was there. He visited Derrick White in Colorado, spending time with White and his family. He sat alongside Neemias Queta at a fundraising event for the Utah State men’s basketball program.
For some, it was a cup of coffee or dinner. For others, it was a visit to their home or simply being present around the facility. Throughout the summer, Mazzulla sought out these opportunities to connect with players and staff, strengthening his relationships across the organization.
“I think it’s just having an understanding of what’s important to each guy and finding that correlation that you can make with them and build on that,” Mazzulla said. “The Celtics have been a successful culture for a long time. They were in the past, they are now, and they will be long when we’re all out of here. So, relying on the foundation of that, and at the same time, getting to know people, meeting where they’re at, having an understanding that they impact winning.”
For Mazzulla, building relationships has always been a point of emphasis. It builds trust and empowerment that goes a long way, shaping the culture, fostering accountability, and creating an environment where players can be at their best.
“I think you just build a connection. Have an understanding that together you understand what winning looks like, but you also care about the person and the player,” said Mazzulla. “It just allows you to build a connection. Trust that what you’re doing is in the best interest of each player and the best interest of the team, and give us the best chance to win.”
It’s a unique dynamic. Around the building, Mazzulla does not go by “Coach,” rather just “Joe.”
“Those guys are out there. They’re the ones that are playing,” Mazzulla said. “They’re the ones that have been competing for many years, and I’m relatively around the same age, and I think there are other ways to build a mutual respect besides the title and just finding those ways to be able to do that.”
Mazzulla’s focus on fostering off-court connections has struck a chord with several Celtics newcomers. For Boucher, it has eased the transition to Boston after spending the last seven years in Toronto. For Anfernee Simons, who spent the previous seven years in Portland, it has strengthened his desire to play for Mazzulla and buy into the culture he’s building.
“Coming here was a lot easier. You sometimes feel like, okay, I’m not sure how to approach these guys, but here it was a lot easier. They made me feel like a family. Especially Coach Joe,” said Boucher. “I got baptized this week, and he came to that. It just shows how much they care and how they want me to feel comfortable here. It’s been amazing. Just the fact that they showed that I’m family, I’m brotherhood. It’s not easy to move in and start over again. But Joe really helped me with that. Brad, too. It’s been a really, really, really warm welcome.”
“It makes you want to go out there and play for him even more when you have that connection off the court, and he’s really invested in your off-the-court life,” said Simons. “You can see that he does that with everybody, including me. Asking about the kids, dropping off stuff at the house. Just being connected with the players off the court. And that goes a long way, just building relationships. Especially with new players coming in. Might not be as comfortable as I want to be, and he’s just trying to bridge that gap and make me more comfortable even faster.”
Another aspect of Mazzulla’s coaching that has made an impression on the newcomers is his intensity. Fully on display during the first week of training camp.
“I just love his mindset. Every time he says something, it’s incredibly impactful. It might be something you wouldn’t expect him to say, but it’s something that has a lot of meaning,” said Luka Garza. “He definitely has that intensity and fire that makes you want to run through a brick wall for him. So I’m definitely excited to play for him. It’s been awesome being coached by him so far.”
Josh Minott offered a very similar sentiment.
“Man, it’s amazing. He’s inspiring, truthfully. He’s a little bit of a weirdo. But he’s a great dude. He’s someone who inspires, like, passion. He’s definitely someone that —man, just from the month-and-a-half of knowing him, I feel like I’d run through a wall for him, truthfully,” Minott said. “He just has that effect on people. He takes a lot of time, like personalizing his relationships with people. He doesn’t talk to any two people the same way, because he understands that we’re all different, and it’s just a blessing to be able to play for him.”
The combination of his approach on and off the court makes Mazzulla’s connection with his players something special.
“I can’t even explain the relationship. It’s like almost as a mentor, in a way,” said Simons. “Obviously, he’s our coach, technically, but out there, he’s pushing us to be the best, no matter how that looks. And so, it’s really not a coach relationship, more like a mentor.”
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