Joe Mazzulla is in midseason form during the preseason.
The Boston Celtics head coach Mazzulla went viral during Wednesday’s preseason game against the Toronto Raptors for a heated moment with Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley. During the second quarter at TD Garden in Boston, Mass., Quickley hit a shot and then turned to the Celtics bench, taunting them with a hand gesture.
In response, Mazzulla had a vulgar message for Quickley. “Shut the f–k up,” Mazzulla told Quickley as Quickley was going back up the floor.
Here is the video of the incident.
Joe Mazzulla had words for Immanuel Quickley after he taunted the Celtics bench
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) October 16, 2025
“Shut the fu*k up” pic.twitter.com/FSXBDoOjT8
If there was ever an NBA head coach that would tell an opposing player to “shut the f–k up,” it would probably be Mazzulla. The 37-year-old, who ascended to the job in 2022 and led the Celtics to the 2024 NBA title, is a former college basketball player who is known for his unconventional and aggressive approach to coaching.
In the past, Mazzulla has attempted to block opposing players’ shots during games, and he once even threatened a different Raptors player in a game a couple of seasons ago (with that player having since signed with Boston). As for Wednesday’s preseason game, Quickley ended up with 14 points and six assists. But it was the Celtics who walked away with a narrow 110-108 victory.
The two Atlantic Division rivals will next meet (for real, live regular season play) on Dec. 7 in Toronto.
