Joe Mazzulla has coached many elite players with the Boston Celtics, but one veteran left the deepest impression on him.
The coaches led stars such as Jason Tatum, Jul Holiday, Jalen Brown, Al Horford, Christaps Porzingis and Derrick White to the championship.
But it was Blake Griffin who really surprised Mazlla with his approach to leadership. Griffin’s tenure in Boston lasted only one season in Twilight of his career, but his influence resonated well beyond his on-court contributions.
The previous number one pick impressed Joe Mazra with his willingness to reduce his role while maintaining the standard of the championship.
Griffin’s humility caught his coach off guard, given the achievements of his decorated career.
“They all did that in their own way. The underlying person (leader) I coached was Blake Griffin. He became just a great guy and the ability to lead with actions and words,” explained Matzula in a recent interview.
The coach acknowledged initial concerns regarding the management of such skilled players. “How do I coach this guy, he’s the former number one pick and that’s Blake Griffin.
Mazra highlighted how Griffin’s attitude shaped the Celtics mentality.
The statistical production of Griffin remained modest during the Boston stint. The 33-year-old averaged 4.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 13.9 minutes per game, starting 16 of his 41 appearances.
The numbers don’t tell the perfect story of Griffin’s outfield contributions. Aside from helping to create the culture that ultimately led to Boston’s title run, Griffin recently gave advice to the recent PickCooper Flag.
Mazra praised Griffin’s team-first mentality throughout the season. “Every time he spoke, and the decisions he made were not about him.
Griffin’s impressive career resume includes six All-Star selections, five All-NBA honors and one Rookie of the Year award. The injury prevented him from reaching even higher heights during his prime year with the Clippers.
The willingness of veterans to sacrifice personal glory for team success exemplified the concept of championships that helped define the season that won the Boston title.