Joe Mazzulla continues to be the most interesting (or at least the most unpredictable) man in the NBA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Boston Celtics head coach Mazzulla went viral this week for his unusual offseason activity. MMA

Eric Nicksick tweeted that Mazzulla (along with new Celtics assistant Sam Cassell) joined him for a

sparring session. Nicksick adds that it was Mazzulla who reached out and that he was particularly

curious about MMA tactics and coaching strategies.

Mazzulla is a known fan of the sport and was recently spotted at UFC 290.

Still only 35 years old, Mazzulla just completed his first season as coach of the Celtics, leading them to

the Eastern Conference Finals (where they lost in seven games to the Miami Heat). In his short time at

the helm, Mazzulla has already proven that he is one of the stranger fellows in the league. Now NBA

referees might have to worry about Mazzulla potentially going for the rear-naked choke after bad calls.

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Ex-Mavericks champion excited about team’s first-round draft pick

Tyson Chandler spent just one season with the Dallas Mavericks. It ended with him celebrating at the

2011 championship parade alongside Dirk Nowitzki.

It’s almost impossible to replicate that level of success upon arrival. Nobody’s expecting the same thing

from Mavs’ incoming rookie Dereck Lively II, but there’s a pathway in which he can turn into a clone of

the former Defensive Player of the Year. Chandler himself sees it too, the big man shared while speaking

to Mavs.com reporter Eddie Sefko.

“I’m looking at myself all over again,” Chandler said during a summer league workout on Thursday. “It’s

crazy, to be honest. Seeing him and remembering where I was at that time. He has everything in front of

him.”

Chandler was brought on as an assistant coach for the Mavs’ summer league team, in no small part to

mentor Lively. Both players entered the league as 19-year-olds with a lot to learn about the NBA game.

With the two sharing similar physical profiles and defensive instincts at an early age, Chandler was a no-

brainer selection to coach up the Duke product.

“I want him to be better than me,” Chandler said. “I’m trying to teach him things that I learned later at

different points of my career, trying to shorten his (learning) curve.”

Lively turning into Chandler 2.0 would be the best-case scenario for the Mavs. Finding an elite shot-

blocker and rim-runner to pair with Luka Doncic could potentially take their team to the next level.

The Mavs have tried — and failed — to find success with similar veterans such as Christian Wood, JaVale

McGee, and Willie Cauley-Stein over the past couple of years. Perhaps molding a big man from scratch

will work out better for Dallas.