Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla delivered one of the more memorable lines of the young NBA season during a timeout in Monday night’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
After veteran center DeAndre Jordan threw down a powerful dunk over Celtics big man Neemias Queta, Mazzulla turned to his players in a team huddle and quipped:
“DeAndre Jordan was on the street four days ago, and you let him dunk on you?”
After veteran center DeAndre Jordan threw down a powerful dunk over Celtics big man Neemias Queta, Mazzulla turned to his players in a team huddle and quipped:
“DeAndre Jordan was on the street four days ago, and you let him dunk on you?” pic.twitter.com/60pSyZWcxN
— OpenCourt-Basketball (@OpenCourtFB) October 28, 2025
The comment was meant more as a joke than a scolding… or was it? You never know with Joe Mazzulla.
Jordan, who had just signed with the Pelicans days earlier, caught a lob from rookie Jeremiah Fears and finished with authority over Queta. The dunk energized the Pelicans bench and drew a reaction from Mazzulla, who used the moment to inject some humor into the huddle.
Known for his direct coaching style, Mazzulla often mixes intensity with dry humor. Players have described him as “unfiltered but fair,” and Monday’s comment was a classic example of that balance.
Neemias Queta, still developing his role in Boston’s frontcourt rotation, has impressed early in the season. He responded with a strong defensive sequence later in the game and finished with 6 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in the Celtics’ first win of the season.
