The 2024 NBA Finals continue this Sunday night, with the Boston Celtics hosting the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 after securing a 1-0 series lead last Thursday.
This series marks a historic moment in the NBA, as both head coaches, Joe Mazzulla of Boston and Jason Kidd of Dallas, are Black. However, when asked about this milestone, Coach Mazzulla shifted the focus towards another aspect of his identity that he often emphasizes.
“I wonder how many of those have been Christian coaches?” Mazzulla responded, highlighting the importance of his faith—a central part of his identity which he has spoken about frequently.
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Last year, Mazzulla expressed to Andscape’s Marc Spears that his faith is crucial to his personal and professional life, stating, “My faith is just as important as my race, if not more important. In order to reach different people, you have to be your whole self, and you can’t put yourself in a box.”
As the Finals progress, Mazzulla is just three wins away from his first NBA championship.
Game 2 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Sunday night and will be broadcast on ABC.
