“[Mazzulla] said, ‘Keep it very short,’ ” Murray quipped.
But when asked about Murray during his press conference prior to Wednesday’s game against the Heat, Mazzulla strayed from his own advice and shared his admiration for the Eagles’ new coach.
“I’m happy that he gets the opportunity,” Mazzulla said. “The opportunity to be a head coach is obviously the dream, part of what we all do. So, he’s been great for us. He’s been to practices, I’ve been to his practices. He’s smart.
“I mean, he helps run one of the best offenses in the country at the collegiate level and really has to think the game and how they build a language. I’ve learned a ton from him, so I’m happy he gets the opportunity. He’s made me a better coach, so I’m grateful for that.”
Tatum nominated
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is one of 12 finalists for the NBA’s Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award. On the surface, the nomination is surprising considering Tatum missed this season’s first 62 games as he recovered from the Achilles injury he suffered last May.
But Tatum was a visible presence around the team throughout his rehabilitation. He attended most practices when he was not even able to participate, sat in film sessions, and joined his teammates on road trips.
“It means a lot being recognized for something like that,” Tatum said. “I told these guys before I came back they were a part of this rehab and motivating factor to get back, just being around the team all season and seeing the way they competed and attacked the season, and the togetherness they played with. I told them I wanted to be part of that.
“Early on when I wasn’t, I obviously couldn’t practice and stuff like that, and I was rehabbing and working out, it was in the back of my mind that I wanted, clearly, to get out of my situation. And just being around the guys really helped me with my mind-set, my mental, still made me feel like I was a part of the team. So, that was big for me.”
Tatum said rehab can feel monotonous and isolating, so every moment around the rest of the team helped uplift him. He hoped his teammates appreciated his presence, too.
“That kind of still made me feel like I was part of something,” he said.
Praise for Brown
While Tatum was out, forward Jaylen Brown willingly and eagerly stepped into the role of primary scorer and has put together the most dominant offensive season of his career. He enters Friday’s game against the Bucks averaging 28.8 points and seven rebounds per game, both career highs, and he has positioned himself to earn first-team All-NBA recognition for the first time.
Tatum, for one, has admired his fellow All-Star.
“I thought it was special,” he said. “Obviously, somebody that has always been capable and was just in an opportunity where more was required from everybody, but obviously especially him. I think a lot of times the NBA is about opportunity, and guys really make the most out of the special ones, and that’s what he’s been able to do this year.”
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.
