Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla Stunned Reporters With Answer To Question About Race During NBA Finals

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla left reporters stunned ahead of game 2 of the NBA Finals.

While speaking to the media, Mazzulla was asked about the significance of two black head coaches coaching in the NBA Finals.

Mazzulla responded by asking the media how many of those coaches were Christian, which led to an awkward silence.

Yahoo Sports’ Vince Goodwill, who asked the question, did not seem satisfied with Mazzulla’s answer.

Via Yahoo Sports

“I wonder how many of those have been Christian coaches,” Mazzulla said when asked Saturday, essentially, if two Black coaches in the NBA Finals meant anything to him.

There was stunned silence in the room because it felt like an awkward answer, at the very least. Shockingly, and this may come as a surprise to the Celtics coach, it is possible to be both Black and Christian.

He didn’t expound on it, he didn’t elaborate what it meant for him to be a Christian in this spot. He brought religion to the party but didn’t choose to explore the conversation.

It could be viewed as using that device to halt any discussion on the topic at hand, just an abrupt stop. And to be fair, there wasn’t a follow-up question, just the awkward silence — which could’ve been Mazzulla’s desired effect.

Goodwill also took to social media to defend his question.