Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Coach Joe Mazzulla’s Unique Approach to Motivation

Jayson Tatum’s recent admission about Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla sheds light on their unique relationship. Tatum revealed that Mazzulla was “probably the happiest person in the world” that Tatum didn’t win the NBA Finals MVP or participate in two Olympic games. While these remarks may come across as playful, they offer insight into Mazzulla’s coaching mindset and how he motivates Tatum. When speaking to Jared Weiss of The Athletic, Tatum explained:

“I talked to Joe a lot. Joe was probably the happiest person in the world that I didn’t win Finals MVP and I didn’t play in two of the games at the Olympics. That was odd. But if you know Joe, it makes sense.”