JJ Redick reveals Joe Mazzulla nearly hired him to the Celtics coaching staff in 2022
The current Lakers head coach says he and Mazzulla discussed Redick coaching under Mazzulla ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick was with Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla when Mazzulla was named Boston’s interim HC in 2022.
Redick said he nearly joined Mazzulla’s coaching staff that weekend of Sept. 23 as the two spent time golfing south of Boston to celebrate a friend’s birthday.
Redick looked back on that chaotic weekend for the Celtics organization, and looked back on how different his career path could have been.
“Joe got the job on Friday and we played golf Sunday morning, and we talked about potentially joining the Celtics’ staff,” Redick told reporters ahead of Thursday’s Celtics-Lakers game in Los Angeles. “It was those early stages of really knowing that I wanted to coach, but not sure what the timing would look like. We stayed in touch. There was another sort of conversation around joining the staff later.”
Mazzulla was named interim head coach days before Boston’s training camp began for the 2022-23 season. Then-head coach Ime Udoka wa suspended by the Celtics for the season for violating team policies.
Therefore, Mazzulla was tasked with assembling a coaching staff in a short amount of time. He ultimately chose not to hire Redick, who had no prior professional coaching experience.
Redick, who retired from playing in the NBA in 2021 after 15 seasons, hosted multiple podcasts dating back to his playing days up until joining the Lakers. He also spent time as a broadcaster for ESPN from 2021-24.
Mazzulla appeared as a guest on Redick’s former “The Old Man and the Three” podcast in October 2023.
Given the pair’s friendship over the last few years, Redick said Mazzulla helped him as he searched for an NBA coaching job last summer.
“The last two years … particularly last year, we talked quite a bit on text, after games, whatnot,” Redick said. “When I was going through this process, he along with a few other coaches in the NBA were really helpful. Not just in preparing for an interview, but really helping me understand what this was and what it required.”
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com