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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Justin Quinn

Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams shares he tried to hire Joe Mazzulla away from Boston

If there is indeed a multiverse, in one of its worlds, JJ Redick is undoubtedly an assistant coach for Boston Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla based on what we have recently heard from Redick on his “Old Man and the 3” podcast. In another, Mazzulla is an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns based on what Suns head coach Monty Williams shared ahead of Boston’s blowout road win against the Arizona franchise.

“He was a guy that was smart enough to not come here with us,” shared Williams via AZ Central’s Dwayne Rankin as the Phoenix coach revealed he’d pursued Mazzulla when he got the Suns’ top gig in 2019-20.”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.”

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

The duo had previously been co-workers in their respective tenures with the San Antonio Spurs organization. “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 the Suns coach.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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