It’s All Star Weekend in the NBA and basketball's biggest stars are gathering in Salt Lake City for the annual NBA showcase. This year, that includes Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the Celtics coaching staff, led by newly named head coach Joe Mazzulla. Here are five things to know about the coach, who has led the Celtics to a hot start in his few months serving as interim head coach.

Mazzulla got the start under challenging circumstances…

The Celtics named Mazzulla the interim head coach after the organization suspended Ime Udoka, who had just led the C’s to an NBA Finals appearance in his first year as head coach. Udoka's suspension came after he allegedly had an improper relationship with someone within the Celtics organization. While any sudden move can create challenges for a team, the fact that it took place right before the start of training camp could not have helped the situation.

Mazzulla had been on the Celtics coaching staff since 2019 when he got the emergency nod.

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…but he made the best of a bad situation

There are probably better ways to start leading a team than under the shadow of a scandal, but Mazzulla and the Celtics didn’t miss a beat. The team has stormed to a 42-17 record so far—the best in the NBA overall. He was also named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for games played in October and November for guiding the C’s to an 18-4 record.

After his first win in the season-opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, his team threw him a surprise victory shower.

The Celtics rewarded Mazzulla’s success by taking off the interim label on Thursday. In a statement announcing Mazzulla’s new role, Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens praised the work Mazzulla had done.

“As he has shown, Joe is a very talented coach and leader,” Stevens said. “He has a unique ability to galvanize a room around a mission. We are thankful for the work he has done to help get us to this point, and excited that he has agreed to lead us into the future.”

Mazzulla’s promotion also comes with a contract extension. He is now the 19th head coach in franchise history. At only 34 years old, he's two years younger than Celtics big man, Al Horford.

Mazzulla will be making some history as an All-Star coach

Mazzulla will be the coach from the Eastern Conference in this year’s All-Star game, while Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets gets the nod from the West. Mazzulla is only the third first-year head coach over the last 24 seasons to coach in the All-Star game—and he's the eighth coach in Celtics history to make it to the All-Star game.

Unlike in past years, when All-Star teams were split by conference, the NBA has moved to an All-Star Draft format. Mazzulla will coach Team Giannis, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, who received the most fan votes for All-Star selection among Eastern Conference starters. They’ll face off against Team LeBron, led by none other than the Lakers’ LeBron James.

In the draft format, each team will have the ability to select their players from the pool of All-Star starters and reserves regardless of conference. This year, Jayson Tatum is a starter and Jaylen Brown is one of 14 reserves. (It's unclear as of now if Brown, who has a facial contusion, will play in the game.)

So there’s a possibility that Mazzulla will coach one of his players, both of his players or perhaps even coach against the duo that have helped make his coaching career blossom. We won’t know until the All-Star draft, which for the first time will take place live right before the game.

Mazzulla got his start in New England

Mazzulla was born in Johnston, Rhode Island, just a short drive from Providence. He played his high school ball at Bishop Hendricken in Warwick, Rhode Island, where he won three state titles. From there, he went on to play in college at West Virginia.

Mazzulla is looking to pick up right where the Celtics left off after the All-Star break

Although this is a big weekend for Mazzulla, he’s not letting the success distract him from the team’s bigger goals.
Speaking to the press after the Celtics 127-109 win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, Mazzulla said that he told his players they can’t be too comfortable.

“And we have a responsibility to the work that we’ve put in up until this point in the season to raise our level and to play even better than we have been,” he said.

The Celtics season resumes Thursday on the road against the Indiana Pacers.