Sunday was Kids Day at TD Garden, and the Boston Celtics rewarded their fans with an exciting 121-118 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
During Joe Mazzulla’s postgame press conference, the final question he received came from SI Kids reporter Rusty Smith, and it was a good one.
“It’s Kids Day here at the Garden — how do you balance pushing players to improve while also keeping the game fun for them?” Smith asked.
Mazzulla didn’t hesitate before giving a thoughtful, honest and insightful answer.
“Yeah, I struggle with that, to be honest with you. I think everyone has a different definition of fun, and you have to find one as a team,” Mazzulla started.
Story continues below advertisement
“I think fun’s a cop-out sometimes when things aren’t going well…I think you have to define what fun looks like as a team, and you have to go after that,” Mazzulla added. “That phrase can be a cop-out sometimes. So, as you get older, kid, don’t use it.”
Mazzulla is known for his intensity both on and off the court, constantly pushing his players to improve. He doesn’t make things easy for them, and his approach doesn’t always look “fun” from the outside.
Story continues below advertisement
However, if one defines fun as winning, then the Celtics are having plenty of fun under Mazzulla. He’s led them to a .727 winning percentage in the regular season under his watch and their first NBA title since 2008 last year.
Mazzulla’s unique management style may not be for everyone, but his results speak for themselves.
