Category: Boston Celtics Blog

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Damon Stoudamire hired as Georgia Tech’s new basketball coach

Via the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

Georgia Tech moved quickly to chart its new course in men’s basketball. Boston Celtics assistant coach Damon Stoudamire was hired Monday as the new coach of the Yellow Jackets. Following reports of the 13-year NBA veteran emerging as a candidate in the morning, the hire was finalized in the afternoon.

The move comes three days after athletic director J Batt dismissed coach Josh Pastner after seven seasons.

“I am humbled and honored to be the head coach at Georgia Tech,” Stoudamire said in a statement. “It is an incredible honor to be entrusted with leading such a tradition-rich program. I am excited to get to work with the goal of consistently having our team compete at the championship level that we all know we can and should compete at. I’m proud to represent Georgia Tech and can’t wait to walk out of the tunnel and onto the floor at the Thrillerdome in front of our fans. Go Jackets!”

Celtics name Joe Mazzulla head coach – no longer interim head coach

The Boston Celtics have named Joe Mazzulla the 19th head coach in franchise history and have agreed upon a contract extension with him, the team announced today. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Mazzulla replaces Ime Udoka.

“As he has shown, Joe is a very talented coach and leader,” said Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “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.”

The Celtics currently own the best record in the Eastern Conference at 42-17. Mazzulla, a native of Johnston, RI, was recognized as the NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for games played in October and November after leading the team to a league-best 18-4 record (.818). Mazzulla was also named the NBA All-Star Head Coach on Jan. 30, and will coach Team Giannis in Salt Lake City. Mazzulla becomes only the third first-year head coach over the last 24 seasons to helm an All-Star team, and is the eighth coach in Celtics history to earn the honor.

Hornets trade Mason Plumlee to Clippers for Reggie Jackson

The LA Clippers this past Thursday acquired Mason Plumlee in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets for Reggie Jackson and a second-round draft pick, announced Lawrence Frank, Clippers president of basketball operations.

“Mason will help fortify our center position with his energy and playmaking ability,” said Frank. “He is an impressive passer with great vision. Our team will enjoy playing with him.”

Plumlee, 32, appeared in 56 games for the Hornets this season, averaging 12.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Originally selected with the 22nd overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Plumlee has appeared in 717 games with the Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and Hornets, averaging 8.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 59.2% from the field. The 7-foot-0 center has also appeared in 60 career playoff games and was named to the 2013-14 All-Rookie First Team.

“Reggie has played a vital role in many of our finest moments,” said Frank. “Two years ago, he helped lead us to our first conference finals, and last season, he helped carry us when we were hampered by injuries. He made a lot of fans here, and a lot of friends. His name and his smile will always hold a special place in this organization’s heart.”

Jackson, 32, appeared in 52 games (38 starts) for the Clippers this season, averaging 10.9 points, 3.5 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 25.7 minutes. The 6-foot-2 guard holds career averages of 12.9 points, 4.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 755 appearances across 12 NBA seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons and Clippers. In his four seasons with the Clippers, Jackson ranks seventh in franchise history in total made three-pointers (392). Born in Pordenone, Italy, Jackson also appeared in 31 playoff games with the Clippers, averaging 12.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 43.1% from three.

Celtics trade Justin Jackson to Thunder for Mike Muscala

The Oklahoma City Thunder this past Thursday acquired forward Justin Jackson, a 2023 second-round draft pick and a 2029 second-round draft pick in a trade with the Boston Celtics for forward/center Mike Muscala, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Jackson (6-8, 220) appeared in 23 games with the Celtics this season and over his six-season NBA career has seen time in 278 career games (61 starts), holding career averages of 6.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 17.6 minutes per game.

Muscala spent four seasons with the Thunder and appeared in 168 games (seven starts) and averaged 7.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 14.5 minutes per game. This season, he saw time in 43 games (five starts) and contributed 6.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 14.5 minutes per game.

Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla will coach Team Giannis in 2023 NBA All-Star Game

Boston Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla and his staff will coach Team Giannis in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, Feb. 19 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.

The Celtics clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference on Jan. 30 with a 36-15 overall record and own the highest win percentage in the NBA (.706). Boston ranks third in the NBA in points per game (117.8) and owns the highest plus/minus of any team while holding opponents to an average 112.3 points per game.

Mazzulla becomes the eighth coach in Celtics history to be given the honor of coaching an NBA All-Star Game, joining: Brad Stevens (2017), Doc Rivers (2008, 2011), Chris Ford (1991), K.C. Jones (1984-1987), Bill Fitch (1982), Tom Heinsohn (1972-1974, 1976) and Red Auerbach (1957-1967).

This is only the third time in the last 24 seasons that an All-Star team will be guided by a first-year NBA head coach.

Former NBA player and coach Chris Ford has died

Ford Family Statement

The Ford family is sad to announce the passing of Chris on January 17, 2023. Chris was beloved by his family, friends, and teammates. He had a great love for his family, the city of Boston, the fans, and the entire Celtics family. He always showed humility and respect for all those that were fortunate enough to be a part of his life.

Boston Celtics Statement

As a player and coach, Chris Ford’s career spanned over a decade of Celtics basketball, and he made his mark every step of the way. He was a member of three NBA World Championship Boston Celtics teams, one as a key player on the 1981 Champions, and subsequently as an assistant coach for the 1984 and 1986 champs. Ford went on to become the team’s eleventh head coach, leading his former teammates Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish to multiple playoff appearances in the trio’s final days together. ‘Doc,’ as he was affectionately known by his teammates, was a fundamentally versatile all-around guard. He was voted the team’s MVP in his first season with the Celtics, and he is famously credited with scoring the NBA’s first three-point basket. Ford joined an elite group of Celtics’ personnel (Bill Russell, Tom Heinsohn, and K.C. Jones) who have earned championship rings as both a player and coach with the organization. The Boston Celtics sends their deepest sympathies to the Ford family and their many friends.

PER THE DETROIT NEWS: “Chris Ford, a member of the Detroit Pistons’ top 50 players of all-time who later made the first 3-pointer in NBA history, has died. Ford, who reportedly recently suffered a heart attack, died Tuesday. He was 74. Ford was the 17th overall pick by the Pistons in the 1972 NBA Draft out of Villanova, and played seven of his 11 seasons with Detroit. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard averaged double-digits in scoring in seasons for the Pistons, including 12.3 points in the 1976-77 season. In 1978-79, he was averaging 11 points when Detroit traded him to Boston for Earl Tatum.”

TNT adds January 26 Knicks at Celtics game to TV schedule, drops Bulls at Hornets

In NBA national TV news, on Thursday, January 26, TNT will now televise the Knicks at Celtics game, and have dropped the Bulls at Hornets.

The Celtics at 29-12 have the best record in the NBA, while the Knicks at 22-19 currently sit a respectable 7th in the Eastern conference.

The Bulls (19-22) are currently 10th in the East, while the Hornets (11-31) are just 14th.

Celtics trade Noah Vonleh to Spurs

The Boston Celtics have acquired a future conditional second-round pick in a trade with the San Antonio Spurs for center/forward Noah Vonleh and cash considerations.

Vonleh (6-10, 257) has appeared in 23 games (one start) with the Celtics this season and is averaging 1.1 points and 2.1 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game while shooting 45.8 percent from the field. The eight-year NBA veteran recorded season-highs of seven points and seven rebounds in the Celtics 133-118 win against the New York Knicks on Nov. 5. Vonleh originally signed with the Celtics as a free agent on Sept. 26, 2022.

No status change expected just yet for Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla

Via the Boston Herald:

[Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad] Stevens said the Celtics have not had recent conversations about Joe Mazzulla’s title. Mazzulla remains the Celtics’ interim head coach, and that status is likely to stay at least for the foreseeable future.

“We haven’t really even like talked about it recently,” Stevens said. “Our focus has been on how to make this team and staff and give everything we need to make sure we’re as good as we can be. He’s running the show. The title is the title and we’ll have updates at a later date on all that other stuff. But he’s doing a good job and he’s running it like the head coach runs it.”

Stevens expressed great confidence when he named Mazzulla the interim head coach on the eve of training camp after the Celtics issued a season-long suspension to Ime Udoka.

Celtics’ Al Horford fined by NBA

Boston Celtics forward-center Al Horford has been fined $25,000 for making unnecessary and excessive contact to the lower body of Orlando Magic center Moritz Wagner, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.

The contact, for which Horford was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected, occurred with 10:39 remaining in the third quarter of Boston’s 117-109 loss to Orlando on Dec. 16 at TD Garden.