It turns out Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla wasn't toying with the media when he closed his Thursday press conference in strange fashion.
One day before Game 3 of Boston's Eastern Conference semifinal series with Philadelphia, Mazzulla was heard saying "I am the worst coach ever" as he walked away from his virtual presser. Some might have thought this was a troll job from the Celtics coach, who took a dig at reporters following Boston's blowout Game 2 win.
But prior to the Celtics' victory Friday night at Wells Fargo Center, Mazzulla revealed the remark was a product of sincere remorse after he accidentally overlooked one of his player's recent achievements in a team meeting.
"Yeah, I apologize," Mazzulla told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. "We had just gotten back from film and I missed an opportunity to show appreciation to one of our guys. And so, time with the guys is sacred in film. I had just been informed that (Marcus) Smart won the NBA Hustle Award, and we went through an entire film session and I didn't show my appreciation for him. And then I think someone here asked me about it, and my eyes lit up and I was like, 'What an idiot.'
"So as I was signing off, I was just like, 'damn' and then I texted him right away. It's important. I think in situations, I know it's about team and our guys do that, but I really love showing appreciation when guys get individual awards. Especially like that one because of the sacrifice they put into it and the work that they have. So if I do do something like that, I do think I need to be better."
Mazzulla will try to lead the Celtics to a third straight win Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia. Tipoff for Game 4 is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET
