Jan 31, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla looks on against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla doesn't care about Mavericks' Luka Doncic trade

Originally posted on Dallas Mavericks on SI
By Dustin Lewis | Last updated Feb 2, 2025 5:50 PM ET

Less than a year has passed since the Dallas Mavericks faced off against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. The Celtics ended up taking the series and the Mavericks have elected to go in an entirely different direction following their draft.

In a move that still sounds too ludicrous to type, Dallas dealt franchise star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package centered around Anthony Davis. Doncic is off to the West Coast and Davis has been added to his place as the Mavericks look to make another postseason run behind the prolific big man and Kyrie Irving.

Considering the championship clash and upcoming meet between the Celtics and Mavericks in a few days, it'd be understandable if Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla revealed his thoughts on the situation. Instead, he reacted to the trade in only a way that he could, by not caring.

Upon taking the podium for his pregame press conference leading up to Boston's road game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Mazzulla quickly let the media know to not bother asking him about Doncic.

"Don't ask about the trade. I don't really care," Mazzulla said according to Celtics on CLNS's Noa Dalzell.

Joe Mazzulla immediately upon sitting down at the pregame podium:

“Don’t ask about the trade. I really don’t care.”
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) February 2, 2025

It's not a very surprising stance for Mazzulla, who has become known for his quips and deadpan responses around the league.

With that being said, it won't be very long until Mazzulla and the Celtics get their first look at the new iteration of the Mavericks. Dallas is scheduled to travel to Boston on Thursday, February 6, for a nationally televised contest at 7:30 p.m. EST on TNT. It will be the first time that the Mavs have traveled to TD Garden since falling in the finals in June. Doncic averaged 29.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.6 steals in 38.8 minutes per game during that series.

The Celtics and Mavericks played the first game of their season series in late January. Boston defeated Dallas on the road, 122-107, as Kristaps Porzingis scored 18 points in his return to the Lone Star State. Kyrie Irving led the Mavs with 22 points while Quentin Grimes added 20 points of his own.