How Joe Mazzulla Feels Influenced By Ime Udoka’s Celtics Tenure

Joe Mazzulla spent a year working alongside then-Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka two seasons ago.

Mazzulla, a then-assistant, watched as Udoka guided Boston to its first NBA Finals appearance in 13 years. Soon after, of course, Udoka’s inappropriate relationship scandal triggered the end of his time with the C’s and opened the door for Mazzulla’s takeover. But even though the split was ugly, Mazzulla does admit to learning a thing or two from the current head coach of the Houston Rockets.

“When you’re able to work for a guy that’s been in the league for such a long time, you’re able to understand the ebbs and flows of a season,” Mazzulla told reporters after Boston’s Friday night win over Houston, per CLNS Media. “I think the way he navigated an NBA locker room, the way he navigated an NBA season, there’s stuff that he just had knack for because he played, and he coached. So you’re just able to learn from that.”

Mazzulla’s Celtics got the better of Udoka’s Rockets and quickly turned a competitive first half into a lopsided 109-86 contest. Boston’s defense held Houston to 30 points in the second half and 10-of-36 shooting from 3-point range the entire game. The night served as a reminder for the Western Conference’s worst team in 3-point shooting — and second to last in the NBA — of how far both teams currently are.

Udoka, before the game, offered the Celtics congratulatory words coming off their 2024 championship. The third-year head coach is in a much different situation but continues to make strides with the Rockets, leading its young core to lead the league in rebounds (48.9) and offensive rebounds (14.2) — keeping Boston in the rearview mirror.

“Happy for them for sure and not surprised,” Udoka told reporters, per MassLive’s Souichi Terada. “It was coming regardless and so taking the steps that they had before I got there and then the year I was there, obviously, falling short that year. I know it fueled everybody to get back and was motivated to get it done when I got there. I’m extremely excited for them and not surprised about the jump they took.”