Celtics

“I see why he sits over there and he says absolutely nothing. And he’s calm as [expletive].”

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has been no stranger to criticism, especially during the growing pains he endured last season in his first year leading Boston’s coaching staff.

Even after last year’s crushing conference-finals loss at the hands of the Heat, Mazzulla’s emphasis on 3-pointers and other hallmarks of his coaching styles has led to more scrutiny in 2023-24 — especially among former players like Kendrick Perkins.

But Mazzulla does have one vocal supporter in LeBron James, with the Lakers star and basketball legend praising Mazzulla and his game planning during Boston’s four-game sweep of the Pacers in the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals. 

Speaking on the latest episode of the “Mind The Game” podcast alongside JJ Redick, James spoke highly of Mazzulla’s coaching style — especially with his approach with fouls at the end of Boston’s eventual Game 1 win over Indiana last month. 

Redick noted that Mazzulla elected to foul while up six points at the end of that game against the Pacers —  a forward-thinking move to ensure that the score would remain a two-possession difference. 

James was impressed with Mazzulla’s ability to read such a scenario potentially playing out in the midst of a hectic end to a high-stakes playoff game. 

“This Joe Mazzula guy is a [expletive] genius,” James said, adding: “The more and more I talk I want to talk to you, the more and more I like this Joe guy.”

“You got to think outside the box a little,” Redick responded.

“Absolutely,” James responded. “And I see why he sits over there and he says absolutely nothing. And he’s calm as [expletive]. He only gets a little like — when he knows they’re not playing the right way offensively.

It’s never defensively. It’s never because of the three-point attempts. It’s never ever if a team makes a run. He’s calm. It’s only when they don’t play the game the right way does he gets a little angry.”