On an Opening Night kicking off a season-long celebration commemorating Bill Russell’s life, it was also the modest start of Joe Mazzulla’s head coaching career. Russell helped author 690 wins and 11 championships in his illustrious career and for Mazzulla, the festivities put everything in focus.
“The Bill Russell ceremony brought a lot of gratitude and brought a lot of perspective to what it means to coach the Celtics and to be a Celtic,” Mazzulla said after Boston’s 126-117 win over the visiting 76ers.
Mazzulla has been with the Celtics for three years, the only coach that worked for both Brad Stevens and Ime Udoka.