Joe Mazzulla gives an interesting definition for what he views as fun

Whether or not it’s teaching the NBA Finals or beating a team of reporters by more tha 50 points, there’s one trait of Joe Mazzulla that received’t be questioned: his competitiveness.

This has helped him on his approach to attaining success, changing into the youngest coach to win an NBA championship in over 50 years when he led the Celtics to their 18th banner in 2024.

Nonetheless, even with this success, Mazzulla believes the thought of getting enjoyable is one thing he’s nonetheless engaged on.

“I battle with that, to be sincere with you,” Mazzulla responded when he was requested about balancing pushing his gamers with protecting the sport enjoyable on Sunday. “I believe everybody has a unique definition of ‘enjoyable’, and you need to discover one as a group.”

That response prompted The Athletic‘s Jay King to ask Mazzulla what truly brings him pleasure, revealing that even reaching the game’s mountaintop doesn’t give him that emotion.

“Simply usually, I don’t get pleasure from profitable,” Mazzulla told King. “Not even a championship. … I get probably the most pleasure and achievement after I really feel prefer it was performed proper, no matter if we’ve received or misplaced. And that’s actually it.”

Mazzulla added that he’s had moments the place he’s felt higher about losses than wins.

“I’ve left the world after wins being empty and pissed off,” Mazzulla instructed King. “I’ve left the world after losses saying, ‘That’s precisely what we’ve to be.’”

Nonetheless, Mazzulla enjoys his job because the Celtics’ head coach due to the camaraderie he has with the group.

“That stuff is enjoyable since you’re doing it with a bunch of individuals,” Mazzulla added in his feedback to King about working by means of stress. “And I believe that sort of leads right into a love side of, like, should you may very well be in an atmosphere the place you’re keen on the man subsequent to you and also you’re prepared to go after one thing greater than your self, I don’t suppose there’s something extra fulfilling than that.”

Now, Mazzulla’s battle with enjoyable doesn’t imply he isn’t conscious that it performs a job in how his group performs. He acknowledged that on his approach to attempting to outline what “enjoyable” is, he has had conversations together with his gamers, as everybody has various things that convey them pleasure.

So, whereas this season may not be as enjoyable for Celtics followers as the previous few have been, Mazzulla is perhaps discovering pleasure in working by means of the adversity of a attempting yr.