Joe Mazzulla Reflects On Celtics Legacy Ahead Of NBA Pioneers Classic
Sunday was the first day of February, marking the start of Black History Month.
The NBA kicked off the month with its inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden. The game celebrated the 75th anniversary of the league’s first African-American players — Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd, and Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton — who debuted during the 1950-51 campaign.
Cooper, who was drafted by the Celtics in 1950, was the first African-American drafted by an NBA team. He played four of his six NBA seasons with Boston, paving the way for other African-American Celtics stars like Bill Russell, K.C. Jones, Sam Jones and more.
Prior to Sunday’s game against the Bucks, Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla reflected on the franchise’s legacy and the importance of pushing it forward.
“I think there are two opportunities there. When you coach the Celtics, we’ve had high-character people, a history, a tradition in many different forms,” Mazzulla said during his pregame press conference. “When you’re helping move that forward, you have a responsibility to the people who came before you to move it forward.”
Mazzulla is following in the footsteps of many great Celtics coaches dating back to Red Auerbach — a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly.
“One is to be appreciative of what those before you have done on and off the court. The second piece to that is doing your part in moving that forward and leaving it better,” Mazzulla added. “I think the league’s the same way. We’ve had some great people come through this league, influential people.”
Mazzulla has done a great job in that regard, winning on the court while building a special culture off of it. He’s continued the franchise’s proud history in both respects and is cementing his legacy as one of the best coaches in recent Celtics history.