Woj: 'Everything is Aligned' for Joe Mazzulla to Be Celtics' Long-Term HC
The Boston Celtics have started 11-3 under interim head coach Joe Mazzulla, and it appears inevitable that he'll eventually be given the full-time title.
"Everything is aligned and in place for Joe Mazzulla to be the long-term coach for the Boston Celtics except for one thing: Ime Udoka is technically still the head coach of the Boston Celtics, on suspension," ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said on Wednesday's SportsCenter. "But for all intents and purposes, he has coached his last game in Boston. This is uncharted territory, certainly."
With Udoka serving a minimum one-year suspension from the Celtics for a number of violations, including having an improper workplace relationship,
Udoka was reportedly a candidate to be hired by the Brooklyn Nets earlier in November after the team fired Steve Nash, though the team instead promoted interim head coach Jacque Vaughn.
Per ESPN's Nick Friedell and Wojnarowski, "The Nets backed off an initial plan to hire Udoka based on several factors, including a prolonged antisemitism controversy with Kyrie Irving coupled with the impending disruption that would've come with the hiring of Udoka in the aftermath of his suspension in Boston for an improper relationship with a female subordinate."
Had the Nets hired Udoka, appointing Mazzulla the long-term head coach would have been simple enough. Instead, the team will have to either fire Udoka or wait for another team to hire him.
Both men have had success in the role. Udoka led the Celtics to the NBA Finals last season in his first year on the job. Mazzulla has picked up where he left off, with the Celtics holding the best record in basketball thus far this season.
Given the early success the Celtics have had under Mazzulla, any concerns about growing pains on the job have likely been alleviated. When Udoka was suspended, the Celtics had the luxury of giving Mazzulla an extended trial period under the interim tag to see how he would handle the position.
The early returns have been nothing but positive.
