Joe Mazzulla was asked a question related to race ahead of Game 2 of the NBA Finals this week, and the Boston Celtics coach had a very blunt way of shutting it down.
During his scheduled media availability on Saturday, Mazzulla was informed by Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports that this is the first time since 1975 that the NBA Finals features two head coaches who are of African-American descent, with Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd being the other. Goodwill asked Mazzulla if that carries significance for the 35-year-old “given the plight, sometimes, of black head coaches in the NBA.”
Mazzulla gave a telling response.
“I wonder how many of those have been Christian coaches,” he said.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla shuts down a race-baiting question in epic fashion. pic.twitter.com/fOl04Wta0m
— OutKick (@Outkick) June 9, 2024
The message from Mazzulla seemed clear. He has been outspoken about his Christian faith in the past. What Mazzulla likely meant with his response to Goodwill is that his Christianity is just as important to his identity as his ethnicity.
Mazzulla is also known for being very intense during press conferences. We saw another example of that with what he said about the pressure of coaching in the NBA Finals.
Mazzulla, who is of Italian descent from his father and African-American from his mother, obviously has no interest in discussing any narratives related to race as he prepares the Celtics to take on the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of the NBA Finals at TD Garden on Sunday night. Mazzulla’s reaction was reminiscent of when Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles was asked about facing Mike Tomlin in a game.
