Boston Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla was fined $35,000 by the NBA on Saturday for his behavior toward employees during the season Thursday’s 117-108 loss to the The Chicago Bulls.
The penalty was for “roughing and directing inappropriate language at the game official,” the league announced.
Mazzulla was initially whistled for a technical foul for leaving the coach’s box on the sideline and walking onto the court during the fourth quarter. Jaylen Brown we had Jayson Tatum also issued technical errors before Mazzulla’s offense.
After the final buzzer, Mazzulla chased down referee Justin Van Duyne to dispute the calls. The Celtics coach had a cheeky response when asked what he told the staff.
“I haven’t seen them in a while, so just have a merry Christmas, happy holidays, I’m not sure I’ll see them before the holidays,” Mazzula said during his postgame press conference. “I can’t let a moment go by where I wish someone better to them and theirs and their families.”
That probably helped Mazzulla avoid a higher fine, like this one Houston Rockets Coach Ime Udoka received earlier this month for chasing officials on the court, then criticizing them in post comments.
After the game, crew chief Tony Brothers told reporters that Brown received a technical for questioning the integrity of a referee, according to the Associated Press. Tatum has his technique for “obvious action to an official.”
Brown countered that he had given a notice for no reason.
“As captain … I speak to my team. I’m allowed to speak,” Brown said. “So when I tell you, ‘You called a technical for no reason’ and you say, ‘If you say that again, I’ll call a technical,’ just (using) your whistle as a threat . That’s not part of the game.”
Brown was $25,000 fine two weeks ago for making a throat-slash gesture to the Detroit Pistons‘ Isaiah Stewart during their December 6 matchup.
The Celtics play the Bulls again on Saturday, this time in Chicago.
