BOSTON — Since becoming head coach of the Celtics, Joe Mazzulla has always stressed the importance of his Catholic faith.
After winning the 2024 NBA Championship, Mazzulla donned a black T-shirt that read: “But first… let me thank God.” In his first speech following the title, he said: “First of all, the most important thing for us, for me, is our faith.”
Mazzulla’s connection with his religion has routinely come up in his pregame and postgame press conferences throughout his three-year coaching tenure.
Last Spring, when asked about the significance of having two Black head coaches face off in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1975, he replied: “I wonder how many of those have been Christian coaches.”
And, in his first season coaching in 2022, when the Prince and Princess of Wales attended a Celtics game at TD Garden, Mazzulla was asked by a reporter if he met “the royal family.”
He flatly responded: “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph? I’m only familiar with one royal family. I don’t know too much about that one. But hopefully, they’re Celtics fans.”
Joe Mazzulla appreciates the opportunity to compete on Easter Sunday
So, with the Celtics set to face off against the Orlando Magic for Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs on Easter Sunday, Mazzulla was asked pregame his thoughts on playing on the holiday.
“I cherish it,” he said. “I think it’s become part of just our family and who we are.”
The Celtics also played on Christmas this year, and regularly compete on religious holidays.
“I don’t think it’s anything better than Easter and the Celtics,” Mazzulla said. “We get Christmas, Easter, and the Celtics — so what’s better than that?”
The Celtics and Magic will tip off at 3:30 pm ET for Game 1 of the playoffs on Sunday at TD Garden.
