Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics (A)

Joe Mazzulla's leadership journey with the Boston Celtics began in 2016 when he served as an assistant coach for their NBA G-League affiliate. In 2019, he was promoted to a "behind-the-bench" assistant coaching role with the Celtics, before being asked to become the interim head coach in September 2022 following the suspension of the head coach. All throughout the 2022-2023 NBA season, Mazzulla discovered the demands of the role, learning what his players and coaching staff needed from him as well as how to manage relationships with the Boston sports fanbase and the media. Despite the Celtics falling short in the 2023 NBA Eastern Conference Finals, Mazzulla used the offseason to recalibrate and refine his leadership and communication strategies for the upcoming 2023-2024 season. By June 2024, Mazzulla's hard work and evolution had paid off, with the Celtics reaching the NBA Finals for the second time in three years. As Game 4 of the Finals approaches (with the Celtics being up 3-0), Mazzulla finds himself at a crossroads, contemplating his pre-game message to the team. Should he rally them with an aggressive “go for the kill” mindset, or choose language that is more aligned with their “joyous intensity” culture? Mazzulla knows his rhetoric matters and how he communicates could determine if the franchise secures their 18th championship or not.