Celtics Coach Credits Catholic Faith for Winning NBA Title

On Monday evening, the Boston Celtics won their 18th NBA title in franchise history. They ousted the Dallas Mavericks in five games.

Joe Mazzulla, head coach of the team, is not like any other. He became the fifth youngest coach to win the title since 1970 (surpassing Pat Riley). The record is still being held by John Kundla of the Minneapolis Lakers. His previous coaching experience was a two-year stint with Fairmont State, a Division II school in West Virginia. Then in 2022, he became the interim head coach following the suspension of Ime Udoka for violating team policies.

“There's nothing better than representing the Celtics,” Joe Mazzulla said, “and being part of history.”

But Mazzulla found motivation to win the franchise’s best 18th title from an unlikely place, his Catholic faith. He even isn’t afraid of sharing his love for the faith. He is even known as a rosary praying coach. He would do a prayer walk around the court.

He even made a promise that the team would travel to the Holy Land should they win the NBA title.

“And it will be kind of like just our reconnect. But we went last year and we stopped right along this mountainside of the Kidron Valley and you could see a path in between the mountains … the only way that [Jesus] could have gotten from Jericho to Jerusalem was through this valley. And right there I was like, ‘We have to walk that.’”

He added: “Most people go to Disney World or whatever but ... I think [the Holy Land is] the most important place to go back and recenter yourself.”

Sharing about his past experience, Mazzulla saw it as a life-changing experience.

“A very special journey to the Holy Land — and I know that trip resonated with him, and in him, and even brought his faith life, and his Catholicity to a whole new level,”