The Boston Celtics are currently the team to beat in the NBA, and that won’t change for the foreseeable future.
They were the odds-on favorite to win the whole thing since before the start of last season, and they honored that status from start to finish.
Of course, plenty of that had to do with the plethora of talent Brad Stevens put together and the way they performed.
Still, it also had to do with Joe Mazzulla and how he led his guys to the mountaintop.
With that in mind, Jayson Tatum took to Instagram to wish him a happy birthday on his special day (Via Celtics Unite).
Jayson Tatum wishes Joe Mazzulla a happy birthday on his Instagram:
“Happy Birthday to my guy” pic.twitter.com/QJi76zYqq9
— CelticsUnite (@CelticsUnite18) June 30, 2024
Mazzulla drew some criticism in his first year on the job, as he allowed the team to get into some big holes and struggled to get back in games at times.
Nonetheless, he showed his prowess as a tactician and game-planner right away.
Now, with more veterans around him on his coaching staff, he took the team to the ultimate stage and took care of business.
It didn’t take long before Mazzulla earned the praise and recognition of his peers, and rightfully so.
Not only did he prove to be great with the Xs and Os, but his character and player management was also significant, making sure to keep his players grounded through the ups and downs of the season.
Of course, the biggest challenge will come now, as the Celtics will have everybody else in the league aiming for their crown.