Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla never allows convention to dictate his coaching style, and it sounds like he doesn’t let it rule his home life, either.
Mazzulla has been known to show his players footage of killer whales to inspire and educate, and a new story reveals that Mazzulla is now interested in acquiring a pet wolf.
“We obviously have a dog, but I’m trying to convince (my wife) to get a wolf that just kind of roams the area of our house, as kind of an extra layer of protection,” Mazzulla said on Friday while appearing as a guest on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak & Bertrand.
While we’re pretty sure Mrs. Mazzulla won’t be down with the wolf idea, you can’t fault Joe for trying. Actually, you can’t fault Joe for much at all these days, especially if you’re a Celtics fan.
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Mazzulla has steered the Celts through what was supposed to be a turbulent 2025-26 season marked by significant roster upheaval. In doing so, he’s positioned himself as a strong early contender for NBA Coach of the Year.
Losing Jayson Tatum for most of or all of the season was just one challenge facing Mazzulla heading into the current campaign. Following the departures of key contributors like Jrue Holiday (Portland Trail Blazers), Luke Kornet (San Antonio Spurs), Kristaps Porzingis (Atlanta Hawks), and Al Horford (Golden State Warriors), Boston faced skepticism about maintaining its competitive edge. There was talk of tanking for a lottery pick.
Not on Mazzulla’s watch. His adaptive strategies have kept Boston in the playoff hunt. As of Sunday, the Celtics hold a 17-11 record after a convincing 112-96 victory over the Toronto Raptors, placing them third in the Eastern Conference.
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By integrating new additions and fostering resilience amid adversity, Mazzulla has demonstrated elite coaching acumen, proving his ability to sustain success with a revamped and less experienced lineup. This turnaround has completely validated Mazzulla’s extension and silenced what’s left of his doubters.
Featured image via Troy Wayrynen/Imagn Images
