“It’s good to coach on a day like this, but I think the bigger picture for me is the ability to have the platform that we have as a team to do that throughout the regular season.”

Joe Mazzulla understands the gravity of playing and coaching NBA games on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

For a Celtics team rich in its history of activism, past and present – from legendary player, coach, and human rights activist Bill Russell to current stars like Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday – playing on this day is of great importance.

Prior to tip-off of the Celtics-Warriors matchup on MLK Day, Mazzulla took time to reflect on why playing on the remembrance day is significant, and how he hopes to use his platform all year round.

“The NBA calendar presents opportunities to build a platform on many different days, whether that’s Martin Luther King, whether it’s Christmas, whether it’s Easter,” Mazzulla told reporters Monday. “I think Steve Kerr does a great job throughout the voting process.

“When you have a team like us, who has the opportunity to be on a platform … you try to take advantage of that. So yeah, it’s good to coach on a day like this, but I think the bigger picture for me is the ability to have the platform that we have as a team to do that throughout the regular season.”

Joe Mazzulla on Coaching on MLK Day:

"It is good to coach on a day like this … what I like the most is that our guys are willing to take on that platform and that responsibility. You see the work in which what Jaylen does you've seen what Jayson has done, you see what Jrue has… pic.twitter.com/tfxvHFkyqc

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) January 20, 2025

The Celtics take advantage of their platform in a variety of ways. Brown built a foundation, “7uice,” dedicated to supporting and uplifting marginalized communities and breaking down barriers brought on by systemic racism.

Brown’s work focuses primarily on kids in and around Boston. Holiday started a social impact fund with his wife, Lauren, which reaches people and communities across the nation affected by racial and social injustices. He focuses a lot of attention on the communities he’s a part of, including Boston.

Jayson Tatum also has an established foundation with three main goals: “Inspire. Uplift. Empower.” As part of the foundation, he gives out scholarships and runs basketball camps and leadership programs for children and young adults.

“That goes back to the tradition that we have not only in the league, but the team as well,” Mazzulla said. “What I like the most is that our guys are willing to take on that platform and that responsibility. … I take a lot of pride in watching them do that, and I think it’s just as important that they get recognized for what they do off the court as they do on.”

As Mazzulla noted, Kerr does a lot to take advantage of his own platform with the Warriors. He also appreciates the opportunity to play on such an important holiday.

“I always love playing on MLK Day, it’s a very significant day for all Americans,” Kerr said. “I think the NBA has really kind of adopted it as part of our culture, and I’m very proud of that. Very meaningful day for everybody.”

Prior to tip-off, the Warriors and NBA honored Clarence B. Jones, advisor and draft speech writer for MLK Jr. Both teams also wore warmup shirts that read “Honor MLK.”