Joe Mazzulla not happy with Celtics’ All-Star snubs: ‘Clearly winning is not important’
"They are two guys that get it."
The Celtics will have two representatives at the 2024 NBA All-Star Game in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
But if you ask Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla, there should be even more Celtic green on the court in Indianapolis this upcoming weekend.
Even though Boston big man Kristaps Porzingis and guard Derrick White were both on the outside looking in at the All-Star roster, both had a chance to make the Eastern Conference squad after several key injuries sprouted up.
But after both Joel Embiid and Julius Randle were ruled out of the All-Star festivities, NBA commissioner Adam Silver opted to replace them with Atlanta’s Trae Young and Toronto’s Scottie Barnes.
When asked on Tuesday about the omission of both Porzingis and White, Mazzulla was not pleased about their absence.
“Clearly winning is not important, huh? Winning’s not valuable,” Mazzulla said when asked about the All-Star replacements. “How could you not put both of those guys in? Winning’s not the most important in the league.”
Both Porzingis and White have played key roles in Boston’s current spot at the top of the NBA standings. Porzingis has the numbers to validate his spot on an All-Star squad, with the 7-foot-2 center averaging 20.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game this season.
White’s numbers may not leap off the page, with the 29-year-old guard averaging 15.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 blocks per contest. But the guard’s versatile skillset, defensive capabilities and clutch play have led to several additional wins on Boston’s record.
“They are two guys that get it,” Mazzulla added of Porzingis and White. “They are the guys that have been around and just want to play the right way — want be a part of winning — and winning’s the most important thing to those two guys. At the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”
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