Joe Mazzulla is now officially the head coach of Boston Celtics, as the NBA team promoted him from being the interim coach.
Mazzuulla carried the 'interim' tag ever since Ime Udoka moved out in September last year, and the 34-year-old is now the 19th head coach of the Celtics.
Mazzulla has guided the Celtics to the best record in the NBA at 42-17 heading into the All-Star break.
He'll be coaching Team Giannis in the All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sunday.
"As he has shown, Joe is a very talented coach and leader," Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in a statement, in which the Celtics also announced they had agreed a contract extension with Mazzulla.
"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."
Boston, trying to get back to the NBA Finals after falling to Golden State in the championship series last season, opened the season 18-4.
The Celtics is the only team that enjoys a place in the top five of NBA's offensive rating (third) and defensive rating (fourth).
