Monty Williams pursued Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla for his first Phoenix Suns staff

Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic
·2 min read
Boston Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla sits on the bench in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Boston Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla sits on the bench in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
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Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams pursued Joe Mazzulla for his first coaching staff in 2019-20, but the Boston Celtics weren’t having it.

“He was a guy that was smart enough to not come here with us,” Williams said. “I had heard about him through a number of people, and I talked to my representation about talking to him, but (the Celtics) thought so highly of him there, you couldn’t even talk to him.”

Brad Stevens was coaching the Celtics at the time.

“That was a credit to their organization and to (Mazzulla),” Williams continued. “They valued him and have valued him for a while. He was somebody that was trusted behind the bench, which is rare.”

Dec 2, 2022; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams talks to his team during a timeout in their game against Houston at Footprint Center.
Dec 2, 2022; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams talks to his team during a timeout in their game against Houston at Footprint Center.

Mazzulla was entering his first season as a Celtics assistant in 2019 after leading NCAAA Division II Fairmont State to a 43-17 record in two seasons as head coach.

It may have been bad timing for Williams and Mazzulla to connect. The two have gotten to know each other since and Williams isn’t surprised Mazzulla is in this position as an interim head coach for the Celtics.

“I talked to him a little bit on the phone and text because we have a bit of a common bond in our past, but other than that, not much,” said Williams as the two both worked in San Antonio.

The Celtics hit Ime Udoka with a one-year suspension for improper workplace relationship with a female employee. They elevated the 34-year-old Mazzulla, who has led Boston to the NBA’s best record at 20-5.

Boston Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla faces reporters photo during the NBA basketball team's Media Day, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in Canton, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Boston Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla faces reporters photo during the NBA basketball team's Media Day, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in Canton, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

“He’s not somebody that snuck up on this,” Williams said about Mazzulla. “I think the league has valued him and thought highly of him for a while.”

Mazzulla said he’s “grateful” for Williams.

“Who he is as a person, how he carries himself,” Mazzulla said. “Just kind of what he stands for. From afar, I’ve always studied him and kind of gotten to know him through some mutual friends and he’s been great to me. So I have a lot of respect for him.”

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Monty Williams pursued Celtics' Joe Mazzulla for his first Suns staff