"He's there for me" - Jayson Tatum has high praise for Joe Mazzulla's caring personality outside of being Celtics coach
Jayson Tatum has nothing but love and praise for Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla ahead of Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals. The Celtics are now in Dallas Mavericks territory as they try to take a commanding 3-0 series lead and are just two wins away from their 18th championship.
In a post-practice press conference on Tuesday, Tatum was asked about his thoughts on Mazzulla. The 35-year-old head coach has been in charge of the Celtics for two seasons and they are already in the NBA Finals. "JT" described what it's like to have him as a coach on and off the court.
"Aside from being an excellent coach, I truly do believe that he cares about us, our team as individuals and obviously myself. The conversations that we have and he always, through the season, summer time, this postseason, had days where he called me into his office. Not necessarily talk about Xs and Os, but check on me as a person and how I'm dealing with everything. That does mean a lot for somebody to take time off his day to show that compassion and know that he's there for me," Tatum said.
Jayson Tatum has known Joe Mazzulla since 2019 when the young coach was an assistant under Brad Stevens. Mazzulla also learned under Ime Udoka before taking over last season when the controversial coach was suspended and eventually fired.
In his first two seasons as head coach of the Celtics, Mazzulla has compiled a record of 121-43. Boston made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, but lost to the Miami Heat in seven games. They are now just two wins away from winning an NBA championship in his second year with the team.
Jayson Tatum doesn't care about his shooting woes in the NBA Finals
Jayson Tatum has not been at his best in the first two games of the 2024 NBA Finals. Tatum is averaging just 17.0 points on 31.6% shooting from the field, including 28.6% from beyond the arc. However, he's putting up 10.0 rebounds and 8.5 assists, which was a factor in the Boston Celtics' first two wins.
"We always talk about do whatever it takes for however long it takes," Tatum told reporters after Game 2. [H/T Yahoo! Sports]
Despite Tatum's struggles with his shot, his teammates have picked up the slack. Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday have been fantastic for the Celtics in the first two games. Kristaps Porzingis was a huge factor in Game 1, while Holiday stole the show in Game 2.
Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals is on Wednesday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.