Last summer was a whirlwind for the Boston Celtics. Already down Jayson Tatum due to his Achilles injury, they said goodbye to several key players, including Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Luke Kornet.
Accordingly, many fans and analysts were down on the Celtics, believing they’d struggle this season and fall off a cliff.
One player who didn’t get moved was Derrick White. On July 2, he turned 31.
The veteran guard received a hilarious birthday call from head coach Joe Mazzulla, which he finally revealed on the “Old Man and The Three” podcast this week.
“It’s July, and he calls me, and he’s like, ‘Happy birthday, man.’ And I’m like, ‘Appreciate it.’ And he’s like, ‘Everybody thinks we’re gonna suck, I love it,’ and he hangs up,” White said. “He’s like, ‘I can’t wait for us to get back out here. I think we could be so good.'”
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Even six months ago, Mazzulla was spot on. Boston’s been great this season, going 29-18 and tying the New York Knicks for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.
“We’ve had that mindset for a while, and now people are starting to notice. It’s just up to us to continue to build and grow,” White added.
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The Celtics have wildly surpassed expectations this season, and Mazzulla’s commitment and intensity are a big reason why. Despite missing his best player, he’s finding ways to win more often than not, proving why he’s one of the best coaches in the NBA.
Featured image via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
