Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has been putting in serious work, training in mixed martial arts for the last four to five years. This isn't just for kicks, either. He's doing it to truly understand the relentless physical and mental toll his players endure during an 82-game regular season.
The Octagon Connection: Building Empathy Through Pain
It's wild, right? Mazzulla, our reigning Coach of the Year, never actually played in the NBA. So, he knows he hasn't felt that daily grind firsthand. But he's obsessed with connecting with his guys, and that's where the MMA comes in. The man's a massive martial arts fan, he's been to multiple UFC fights while coaching the C's, and his passion goes deep. He told Ariel Helwani, one of the biggest names in fighting journalism, that he's been practicing MMA for years. And get this: he keeps up that training even in the middle of our super-busy NBA regular season! He genuinely believes this is how he bridges that gap, connecting with the fatigue his players might be feeling. He puts it perfectly himself: "I have a lot of respect for our team and the guys in the NBA. And they push themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally all year long...I can go through the whole season and not have any physical, taxing moments...So, the more I can kind of meet them where they're at and put yourself in that position, I think it helps have empathy for them and understand what they go through." You can't argue with that kind of commitment.Beyond The Ring: A Coach Who Shows Up
It's not just about getting bruised up in the gym, either. Mazzulla takes "meeting them where they're at" literally. Over his four seasons as head coach, especially this past summer, he's been everywhere. He jetted off to Portugal to visit center Neemias Queta, then hit up Spain to watch guard Hugo Gonzalez play. He even crisscrossed the United States, heading to Nebraska for wing Baylor Scheierman and down to Texas to see Jordan Walsh. That's a coach who truly invests. This former West Virginia basketball captain has a crazy knack for leveling the playing field. It's not just with players, either. During the 2025-26 campaign, he actually lowered his press conference podium just so he wouldn't be towering over the media! And before the season even started, he set up a basketball scrimmage between Celtics coaches and reporters that made national headlines. This willingness to embrace everyone, no matter their role in the organization, is his superpower. It's absolutely brought our players closer, and maybe, just maybe, it explains how the C's managed to snag second place in the Eastern Conference last season, even with Jayson Tatum out for over 60 games. What a run! Now, Mazzulla's magic touch is gonna be needed more than ever. We're heading into another season with some serious questions. We don't have star guard Jaylen Brown anymore, after that trade to the rival Philadelphia 76ers. There's gonna be potential uncertainty, no doubt about it. But if anyone can provide that steadying force in the locker room, it's Mazzulla, with his unique approach to empathy and connection. He's gotta bring that same energy.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.