Mazzulla addresses stress of on-going Ime Udoka news on Celtics: ‘We just have to push forward together’

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla stressed communication and trust with players amid a new batch of Ime Udoka news.

The Brooklyn Nets announced today the club will not hire suspended Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka after a number of internal and external forces pushed back against the hire and instead are promoting interim head coach Jacque Vaughn. Ahead of Boston’s game Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons, current Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was asked about the ongoing news cycle with regard to Udoka’s status with Boston and its potential effects on his players.

“Everyone’s going to handle it differently,” Mazzulla said. “I just have to be open with the fact that whoever wants to talk about it can. Everyone’s going to process it differently.”

Mazzulla was asked about how players may be handling the emotions that may come as a result of changing narratives. Both Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart have been open with their feelings about Udoka’s suspension and possible departure.

“The most important thing we need the guys to know is that if they want to talk about it, we can, and we just have to push forward together,” Mazzulla said. “The guys trust me. I can’t take that for granted.”

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