“So, letting people down. I talked about the players, the relationships I built with them, the coaches that came with me, and then everybody else that was impacted by it. So for me that’s the biggest thing I would say overall is letting some people down, for sure. But we’ve talked it out and I’ve seen a lot of these people throughout the summer and talk regularly and so we move past it.”

Players such as Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart publicly talked about how confused and taken aback they were by Udoka’s suspension at the time. Udoka was asked about players voicing their frustrations with the situation and gave a candid response.

“I would say they lied to you guys,” Udoka said. “They knew, or some of them knew. Obviously, if I had talked to them, they wouldn’t share stuff publicly. So who needed to know knew.”

Udoka was also asked by reporters about his decision to retain Mazzulla, first an assistant coach under Brad Stevens, upon being hired in June 2021. He says veteran players guided his choice to keep the current Celtics head coach on his staff.

“I would say I kept [Mazzulla] and Tony Dobbins, and they were two guys that were highly recommended, not only by the front office and people that were here but players, as well. And I took especially Marcus [Smart], Jaylen [Brown], Jayson [Tatum], and Al [Horford], the veterans; I took and heavily regarded who they liked and who they wanted to keep. And so, obviously, I didn’t know much about them beforehand. Then, obviously, getting a chance to work with those two, Joe and Tony throughout the year got to know them.

“…In general didn’t know a ton coming in other than good recommendations from players and coaches and front office, Brad [Stevens] specifically, and got to know him and see why he’s having success here.”

Mazzulla would be the first person to tell you that this success in Boston wouldn’t be possible without Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s performances this season.