Celtics Governor: I Would've Considered Firing Joe Mazzulla If He Had Done 'Poor Job' | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Had the Boston Celtics had a disastrous 2022-23 campaign, Joe Mazzulla might not be the team's head coach heading into the 2023-24 season.

In an interview with Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, Celtics governor Wyc Grousbeck said he "would have thought about replacing" Mazzulla this summer had he "done a poor job" in his first season at the helm.

"He took us within one game of the best record in the league and then one game of being in the Finals, as a rookie coach," Grousbeck said. "So I'm comfortable and happy to have Joe as head coach."

The Celtics named Mazzulla interim head coach just before the start of the 2022-23 campaign after suspending Ime Udoka for the entire season following an investigation that revealed he had violated multiple team policies.

Udoka allegedly had an intimate relationship with a female member of Boston's staff and the team didn't get involved in the matter until he allegedly made "unwanted comments" to the woman in the relationship, per The Athletic and Stadium's Shams Charania.

The 45-year-old's suspension had many wondering how the Celtics would perform in 2022-23 after he had led the team to a 51-31 record and a berth in the NBA Finals during the 2021-22 campaign.

Boston ended up excelling with Mazzulla, who was named permanent head coach of the Celtics in February amid a 42-17 start to the 2022-23 season.

The Celtics went on to finish the year with a 57-25 record before securing a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals, where they fell to the Miami Heat in seven games.

Although the C's didn't get back to the NBA Finals last season, Grousbeck detailed Mazzulla's championship mentality while speaking with Himmelsbach:

"We were in an interesting situation at the beginning of last season and Brad strongly recommended Joe for the job. And Brad feels even more strongly about him now, and I agree. Joe handled that initial transition, and eventually the entire season, incredibly well. He's got world-class intensity, drive, and knowledge. He is fully committed to winning a championship with this group. It's all he thinks about.

"Every breath he takes is about making the Celtics better and doing a better job as a coach. He's all-in."

Boston enters 2023-24 with a new-look roster that features Kristaps Porziņģis, who was acquired in a three-team deal with the Washington Wizards that sent Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies.

With Smart in Memphis, Derrick White is slated to be the Celtics starting point guard next season in starting lineup that also includes Porziņģis, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Given the personnel changes and the fact Mazzulla is entering his second season as head coach, the Celtics are expected to reach new heights in 2023-24.