Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem surprisingly backs up Celtics HC Joe Mazzulla despite long standing rivalry
Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem came in support of Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla in a recent apperance on the OGs Podcast.
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Udonis Haslem and Joe Mazzulla
Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem has been one of the biggest critics and naysayers when it comes to the Boston Celtics. He has always been highly critical about anything related to and around the Celtics. However, Haslem seems to have had a change of heart recently. The former Heat legend spoke well about Celtics’ head coach Joe Mazzulla against the media’s harsh treatment towards the Celtics HC.
Even after leading the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship, coach Joe Mazzulla still doesn’t receive the credit he merits. Following Mazzulla’s ranking as the 11th NBA coach by CBS, former league forward Udonis Haslem defended the Celtics HC by showering immense praise on Mazzulla in a recent appearance on the OGs podcast.
Recently there was a poll that came out on the top coaches in the NBA, and it had Joe Mazzulla number 11. There ain't 1 coaches in the league better than Joe Mazzulla. So you could say 'that's my favorite team' and I got my sh*t with Boston, but I'm real now. It ain't 10 f***ing coaches in the league better than Mazzulla.Udonis Haslem said
Haslem’s hatred of the Celtics is widely known. Throughout his 20 years as a Heat player, he frequently faced off against the Celtics, who were a constant contender for the NBA title each season.
Halem’s conflicts with the Cs were mutual, so it’s not surprising that he held a mild resentment toward them even after he retired. Despite this, he took out time to put forward his views on what he felt was right regarding Mazzulla and the Celtics.
Joe Mazzulla etched his name in unique NBA history alongside legendary Bill Russell
The Boston Celtics’ 35-year-old head coach Joe Mazzulla has created history by leading his side to its 18th NBA title. Since the NBA’s founding in 1950, he is the fifth-youngest head coach to accomplish this milestone and one of the youngest since Bill Russell in 1968.
Mazzulla’s feat is all the more remarkable considering that this was only his second season as head coach. In February 2023, he was formally appointed as the 19th head coach in Celtics history, having assumed the role of interim coach in 2022–2023.
He then went on to do the unthinkable: winning the 2024 NBA title with the Boston Celtics.
Mazzulla’s age (35) at the time he won the NBA title is noteworthy since it set him apart from many current NBA players, like Al Horford, one of his side’s players. Safe to say, Mazulla has solidified his place in NBA history as one of the league’s most successful young coaches.
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Kartik Mudaliar
(872 Articles Published)