It was Kids Day at Boston’s TD Garden a couple of weeks back, and while children were given the opportunity to ask questions to their hometown NBA team, the Boston Celtics, head coach Joe Mazzulla did not pull any punches in his responses. But one particular exchange stood out. When Sports Illustrated Kids reporter Rusty Smith asked Mazzulla how he balances “pushing players to improve while also keeping the game fun for them,” the 37-year-old championship-winning coach did not mince words, or offer platitudes.
TL;DR
- Joe Mazzulla questions the definition of "fun" in sports, calling it a potential "cop-out."
- Mazzulla finds fulfillment in execution, not just winning, even after championship victories.
- Despite his philosophy, Mazzulla has achieved significant success with the Boston Celtics.
- Research suggests fun boosts productivity, but Mazzulla's results challenge this notion.
“I struggle with that, to be honest with you,” Mazzulla said. “I think everyone has a different definition of fun, and you have to find one as a team. I think fun’s a cop-out sometimes when things aren’t going well, everyone likes to say, ‘Well, let’s just have fun.’ Well, what does that mean, you know? So you have to define what fun looks like as a team and you have to go after that. But that phrase can be a cop-out sometimes. So as you get older, kid, don’t use it. You know? ‘I just want to have fun.’ Well, what does that mean?”
The comments, sparking wider conversations regarding the significance of enjoyment in work environments, aren't entirely unexpected from Mazzulla, whose lack of outward emotion on the sidelines—consistently even-keeled—is widely recognized. (Mazzulla’s fervor, encompassing his unconventional training techniques and his unique appreciation for items like European soccer, mixed martial arts, and even jiu-jitsu, is also commonly acknowledged within NBA communities.)
A few days onward, in a interview with The Athletic, Mazzulla offered further explanation regarding his complex connection to contentment. “Just in general, I don’t get joy from winning,” Mazzulla stated. “Not even a championship … I get the most joy and fulfillment when I feel like it was done right, regardless of if we’ve won or lost. And that’s really it. I’ve left the arena after wins being empty and pissed off.”
This philosophy runs contrary to a growing body of workplace research suggesting fun enhances productivity. A study from the University of Warwick found happy employees were 12% more productive than their less satisfied peers, while research from BrightHR suggested 79% of employees believe workplace fun contributes to increased output. Gallup has also linked engaged, satisfied workers to a 21% rise in organizational profitability.
However, Mazzulla’s results are tough to dispute. He boasts a 190-71 regular-season standing as Boston’s lead coach and steered the Celtics to their record 18th NBA championship in 2024—their initial title in 16 years—at the age of 35, establishing him as the youngest coach to secure a championship since (the legendary Celtic) Bill Russell in 1969. The Celtics achieved a 64-18 record that season on their path to the title, subsequently following that with 61 victories the following season.
Scholarly studies do indicate complexity in the relationship between enjoyment at work and productivity. One 2022 study published in Cogent Psychology discovered that although amusement in the workplace can serve as an asset that boosts involvement, its impact relies on the circumstances and the confidence employees have. Additional studies have demonstrated that some individuals react cynically to mandated fun activities, considering them as “artificial and unauthentic attempts to build unity.”
You can watch Mazzulla’s candid response to the young reporter’s question below.
Young journalist inquires of Joe Mazzula: “It’s Kid’s Day at the Garden… How do you balance pushing players to improve while keeping the game fun for them?”
By u/MrKalyoncu in nba
