Not long after news got out that former NBAer and current host of the “Old Man and the 3” podcast JJ Redick let it slip that he had been asked to join the coaching staff of the Boston Celtics under interim head coach Joe Mazzulla in the wake of the Ime Udoka scandal, we now have the backstory courtesy of a recent interview of Redick by Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks.
Redick explained that after getting a handful of coaching offers last summer, the Boston opportunity arose ahead of a trip to Massachusetts. “The Boston thing happened so quick,” said the former Pelicans wing to Rooks.
“It was a Thursday when the news broke,” he added. “By Friday, I was talking to Brad (Stevens); by Sunday, I was playing golf with Joe.”
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 13, 2022
Eschewing the details out of respect for the still-unresolved situation, Redick related that “there was a situation where someone got suspended. I think it was five days before the start of training camp.”
“So most coaches that are available already have a job …or they’re head coaches taking time off and Joe sort of sliding into that interim position — I think it was just like a unique thing.”
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 13, 2022
” I was going up to Boston, to be clear, that was already planned,” clarified Redick.
“I was going out to Boston, to my friend … he throws this backyard party every year with a food truck and a band and I’d never been. Our kids are the same age I was going up there anyways, and anytime I take a trip I try to get a round of golf and so Austin (Ainge), Danny’s son, and I were going to play (golf) on Sunday morning.”
“And then it just so happened that Joe ended up being the fourth,” said the Duke alum.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 13, 2022
“Life is about timing,” waxed the former New Orleans Pelican. “I would love — I’ve talked briefly about this on my podcast — but I would love to coach at some point.”
“I don’t feel like the timing is right right now. And speaking of time, we’re at the end of the round, we’re having lunch. And I was like, ‘Joe, by the way, when do I need to be in Boston?’ And for some reason, my brain hadn’t quite grasped the fact that training camp was starting this week. That week, and so he’s like, ‘Tuesday, I need you there Tuesday for the first practice.'”
“And this was Sunday afternoon. Like, alright, I don’t know if I can swing this,” finished Redick.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 13, 2022
Timing is indeed everything, and the timing of the Udoka incident took many more people than he by surprise, as most readers know all too well.
The organization seems to have landed on its feet and then some under Mazzulla, and Redick will likely have such opportunities in the future.
But it would have been a most interesting wrinkle indeed if the host of “Old Man and the 3” was instead coaching up Boston’s players to take them this season.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 13, 2022
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