For Joe Mazzulla, training jiu-jitsu has helped him as coach of the Celtics
Joe Mazzulla took over a Celtics team weeks before training camp as the interim head coach last year. With no NBA coaching experience, he had to learn quickly, make adjustments on the fly and know what areas of the team needed improvement — even if that meant improving himself.
That’s where jiu-jitsu came in and helped Mazzulla become a better coach.
“When you become a coach you spend so much time leading othersw and helping others that you almost neglect yourself,” Mazzulla told ESPN’s Michael Eaves. “The question I have is: ‘Who’s coaching you?’”
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“It’s one of the hardest things I’ve done,” Mazzulla told Eaves. “What the art really gives is the study of transitions, and that really helps me because in a game and in a season, there’s transitions and decision making.
“You’re actually learning how not to fight,” he added. “You’re learning how to handle situations. You’re learning how to problem solve.”
Mazzulla handled quite a bit of situations last year between Ime Udoka’s year-long suspension before the two parted ways, lineup adjustments due to injuries or just trying to see which starting five gave Boston the best chance to win and — of course — learning to navigate the struggles in the playoffs.
The 35-year-old was criticized throughout the Celtics’ playoff run for inconsistencies the Celtics showed throughout each series before ultimately being eliminated by the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
But he’s learning, and Mazzulla is a better person overall because of it.
“I would take it a step further and say I’m a better person,” Mazzulla responded to Eaves when asked if he thought jiu-jitsu made him a better coach. “To me, in order to become a better coach or player, you have to become a better person.”
Now he’s going into 2023-24 with lessons he’s learned from not only last season, but throughout his jiu-jitsu practice.
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The Celtics have high expectations going into the new season after coming within a game of their second straight NBA Finals. Now with Kristaps Porzingis in the fold and Jaylen Brown signed to his supermax, Mazzulla will try to help lead the C’s to Banner 18.
