WATCH: Jayson Tatum offers high praise of coach Joe Mazzulla at NBA Finals

The Boston Celtics have named assistant Joe Mazzulla interim head coach following the suspension of Ime Udoka.

Udoka will miss the entire 2022-23 NBA season for what the team called violations of team policies. The suspension quickly followed reports Udoka had a consensual intimate relationship with a female staff member.

Mazzulla is just 34 years old, but he is one of the longest-tenured members of the Celtics coaching staff. He’s the lone holdover from the Brad Stevens era; he joined the team in 2019. Mazzulla also spent a season as the head coach of the Maine Celtics when they went by the name Maine Red Claws.

In June, All-Star Jayson Tatum was asked about Mazzulla’s impact on the team. At the time, Mazzulla was flirting with pursuing a larger role elsewhere. Tatum lauded his then-assistant coach. You can check out his full comments below:

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Story originally appeared on Celtics Wire