Even if Danny Ainge has not been president of basketball operations for the Boston franchise since June 2021, 27 seasons of defending the colors of the Celtics cannot be erased with the snap of a finger. Player for 8 years, then leader for 19 years, he won three NBA championship titles and helped write the current history of the group now coached by Joe Mazzulla.
The arrival of the C’s in Salt Lake City was therefore an opportunity to confide that Boston always remained in his heart.
“I still watch most games. I’m a huge Celtics fan.”, he confided. “There are still a lot of my guys, and people I know well who are still working there.”
Danny Ainge notably spoke of the power of the hard core of the Boston group that he helped shape, with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum who have now become superstars in the NBA.
“They were successful early on. These guys made conference finals when they were 19, 20, 21. You could tell early on that they were going to be good. But they continued to progress. They make the right decisions, pass on the move, realize they are target players and need to share with their teammates as well. I saw progress in this area in the playoff series early in their careers, but they became more and more consistent in what they showed they could do. They are complete players, on both sides of the field. It’s a pleasure to watch them and enjoy their success because they are great kids who work very hard”.
Joe Mazzulla and Will Hardy, same fight
Danny Ainge was all the more able to have the easy compliment as his Jazzmen managed to snatch victory after a battle that tipped in favor of his team in the last moments (118-117).
In his own way, he wanted to salute the work of Joe Mazzulla, comparing his season to that of Will Hardy, another rookie coach who arrived (from Boston…) in delicate conditions but who was able to take up the challenge. For him, these two technicians have everything to become great coaches in the future.
“I’ve always liked Joe’s work ethic, his focus, his intelligence”he added. “One of the ways I’ve always measured a person’s greatness is their ability to learn from the mistakes they make. I feel like Joe is one of those guys. He will learn from his mistakes, just like Will Hardy quickly learns from his mistakes. Coaches who learn and move forward become legendary coaches. And I think Joe and Will can be a part of that.”
It now remains for Joe Mazzulla to rise to the occasion in the playoffs, as Ime Udoka did last season, and here too, Danny Ainge seems rather confident.
“I think he has a good way of communicating, he’s a good guy and he’s very well respected. But I also think he is capable and above all that he is maturing. He has a toughness that we will probably see emerge more and more in him as he matures as a coach.he continued. “I think Joe has done an outstanding job and will be a great coach. Next year it will be much better and the year after even better. He has a very good group of people around him and quality staff to surround him. Brad (Stevens) is there, he has an incredible experience. I think the team will be in the race and will have the opportunity to achieve their dreams when the playoffs start, if they stay healthy.
