Skip to main content

Celtics' Joe Mazzulla gives faith-based response to race question ahead of NBA Finals Game 2

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was asked about going up against another Black coach in NBA Finals and offered a witty, faith-filled response.

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is prepping his team for Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks after blowing out their opponent in Game 1.

Mazzulla was asked Saturday during his media availability while the team practiced if he had any thoughts about what it meant to him to go up against another Black head coach in Jason Kidd. It was the first time since 1975 the NBA Finals had two Black head coaches.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Without any emotion shown, Mazzulla gave a witty response.

"I wonder how many of those had been Christian coaches," Mazzulla said.

VIEW THE MOMENT ON X.

There was silence for nearly 10 seconds before another reporter was called on to ask a question.

KRISTAPS PORZINGIS SHINES FOR CELTICS IN BLOWOUT WIN OVER MAVERICKS IN GAME 1

Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill, who asked the question, wrote in his column Saturday night that Mazzulla’s "unwillingness to discuss race (was) a complicated issue."

Mazzulla took over as the Celtics’ head coach before the start of the 2022-23 season as Ime Udoka was forced out due to a cheating scandal. 

He helped guide the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals last season and then to the NBA Finals this time around.

He spoke to Sports Spectrum in April about his relationship with God and how it’s changed over the last few years and the "tug of war between humility and pride."

Game 2 is set for Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Data & News supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Stock quotes supplied by Barchart
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.