Following the Boston Celtics’ decisive victory over the Dallas Mavericks with a score of 106-88 on Monday night, the team wasted no time in celebrating with champagne. However, head coach Joe Mazzulla chose a more introspective way to mark the franchise’s historic win. At just 35 years old, he became the youngest coach to claim an NBA title since 1970 and opted to linger at TD Garden long after the game had ended.
Accompanied by his wife Camai Mazzulla, Joe was seen hand-in-hand with her, taking a leisurely stroll around the empty arena well past 3:20 a.m., as reported by the Boston Herald. Journalist Andrew Callahan captured the serene scene, noting how Joe pointed out various spots in the arena, clearly soaking in the moment.
Meanwhile, Camai shared a poignant photo on her Instagram Story, capturing her husband triumphantly lifting the Larry O’Brien championship trophy, accompanied by a quote from the film “The Notebook”: “If you’re a bird, I’m a bird…”
Joe and Camai’s journey began at Glenville State College in 2011, where he was an assistant basketball coach and she was the head volleyball coach. Their subdued celebration provided a stark contrast to the exuberant festivities unfolding in the Celtics’ locker room, where champagne flowed freely among the jubilant team members.
Earlier in the finals against the Mavericks, Joe had stirred intrigue during a press conference when asked about the significance of having two Black head coaches in the NBA Finals for the first time in decades. Instead of offering a conventional response, he chose to reflect on his Christian faith, momentarily leaving the press room in contemplative silence.
This unexpected twist in his response hinted at Joe’s perspective, possibly alluding to the shared faith he and Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, who identifies as Catholic, might have.
