Joe Mazzulla reveals he and Jayson Tatum watched BATMAN together for lesson on how to ‘handle pressure’ before Celtics’ NBA finals win
Joe Mazzulla led the Celtics to their 18th NBA title in a very unconventional way, the head coach revealed.
During a performance op Barstool Sports Podcast Pardon My Take, the 35-year-old said he watched the famous interrogation scene from The Dark Knight with Jayson Tatum in an attempt to help his star player cope with the pressure.
“So when we were thinking about how we were going to deal with expectations and pressure… [watched] the scene where Batman goes into the interrogation room with Joker and they’re talking,” he said of the scene with Heath Ledger’s Joker and Christian Bale’s Batman.
‘Batman says, “Why do you want to kill me?” And as if the Joker starts laughing. He says, “I don’t want to kill you.” He says, “I need you. You complete me.” And it was honestly the coolest moment,” Mazzulla continued.
‘Just as good and evil must coexist. Differences must coexist to bring out the best in each other and the people around you. So, Dark Knight, great movie.”
Joe Mazzulla watched the interrogation scene from The Dark Knight with Jayson Tatum
The head coach said he did this in an attempt to help his star player deal with the ‘pressure’
Mazzulla, who became the youngest coach to win an NBA title since 1970 when the Celtics defeated the Mavericks 106-88 on Monday night, has made headlines for his wayward behavior.
While his triumphant players wasted no time in popping champagne bottles, Mazzulla celebrated the franchise’s historic victory in the healthiest way possible.
He stayed at TD Garden for hours after the game ended and was seen holding hands with his wifeCamai Mazzulla, as they did laps around the empty arena.
‘It’s 3:20 am. and Joe Mazzulla and his wife walking hand in hand across the prosecutor’s office,” Boston Herald reporter Andrew Callahan wrote on X.
The 35-year-old became the youngest coach to win an NBA title since 1970 on Monday night
It was also the first time since 1975 that both head coaches in the finals were black
‘They’ve already done a few laps. Mazzulla points to a few places in the arena. “I’m just soaking it all in,” he added.
Earlier in the series, Joe silenced the press room when he awkwardly dodged a reporter’s question about race during a press conference.
He was asked about the reverence for the NBA Finals featuring two Black head coaches for the first time in nearly half a century.
Both he and the Mavericks’ head coach, Jason Kidd, are black.
“For the first time since 1975, this is the NBA Finals where you have two black head coaches,” Yahoo Sports reporter Vince Goodwill began.
“Given the plight, at times, of Black head coaches in the NBA, do you think this is an important moment? Are you proud of this? How do you view that or do you not see it at all?’ the journalist asked Joe.
He bizarrely dodged the question by proclaiming his Christian faith in a terribly blunt response.
“I wonder how many of those have been Christian coaches,” he replied, before the room fell silent for almost ten seconds.
His answer seemed to be a reference to the fact that Kidd also calls himself Catholic.
After the match, Mazzulla celebrated the victory by walking through the empty arena