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Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla gives an interesting definition for what he views as fun
“Just in general, I don’t get joy from winning.”
Whether it’s coaching the NBA Finals or beating a team of reporters by more tha 50 points, there’s one trait of Joe Mazzulla that won’t be questioned: his competitiveness.
This has helped him on his way to achieving success, becoming the youngest coach to win an NBA championship in over 50 years when he led the Celtics to their 18th banner in 2024.
However, even with this success, Mazzulla believes the idea of having fun is something he’s still working on.
“I struggle with that, to be honest with you,” Mazzulla responded when he was asked about balancing pushing his players with keeping the game fun on Sunday. “I think everyone has a different definition of ‘fun’, and you have to find one as a team.”
That response prompted The Athletic‘s Jay King to ask Mazzulla what actually brings him joy, revealing that even reaching the sport’s mountaintop doesn’t give him that emotion.
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“Just in general, I don’t get joy from winning,” Mazzulla told King. “Not even a championship. … I get the most joy and fulfillment when I feel like it was done right, regardless of if we’ve won or lost. And that’s really it.”
Mazzulla added that he’s had moments where he’s felt better about losses than wins.
“I’ve left the arena after wins being empty and pissed off,” Mazzulla told King. “I’ve left the arena after losses saying, ‘That’s exactly what we have to be.’”
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Still, Mazzulla enjoys his job as the Celtics’ head coach because of the camaraderie he has with the team.
“That stuff is fun because you’re doing it with a group of people,” Mazzulla added in his comments to King about working through pressure. “And I think that kind of leads into a love aspect of, like, if you could be in an environment where you love the guy next to you and you’re willing to go after something bigger than yourself, I don’t think there’s anything more fulfilling than that.”
Now, Mazzulla’s struggle with fun doesn’t mean he isn’t aware that it plays a role in how his team plays. He stated that on his way to trying to define what “fun” is, he has had conversations with his players, as everyone has different things that bring them joy.
So, while this season might not be as fun for Celtics fans as the last few were, Mazzulla might be finding joy in working through the adversity of a trying year.
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