Before he took a single query Saturday, forward of one of many Celtics’ most anticipated video games of the season, coach Joe Mazzulla issued a gap assertion over a minute lengthy.
Not as soon as did he point out basketball.
Mazzulla as an alternative addressed the demise of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man who suffered a extreme beating by the hands of Memphis cops throughout a site visitors cease on Jan. 7. Nichols died in a hospital three days later. The metropolis of Memphis launched video footage of Nichols’ lethal arrest Friday evening, sparking outcry from throughout the NBA.
Mazzulla’s full assertion is beneath.
“On behalf of the Celtics, and my family in particular, I want to pray for Tyre Nichols’ soul. I pray for (Nichols’ mother) Mrs. (RowVaughn) Wells, her heart and her soul. I pray for their family in real prayer. Just praying for their grief, their understanding of the situation and to open up my heart,” Mazzulla mentioned.
“I do suppose there are a number of issues right here. There’s systemic points, there’s a cultural difficulty, there’s a management difficulty. Bigger than that, there is a matter of it is a damaged world. We stay in a damaged world, the place we don’t maintain one another accountable sufficient to the easy issues in life; like love, respect, treating folks the fitting approach and loving your neighbor. And as an alternative, we reward delight, we reward vanity, we reward entitlement. We all really feel like we are able to do no matter we wish at occasions, and that’s not how this world works.
“So our Celtics organization grieves for them, we pray for them. And it’s really important that we’re a representation of love, a representation of hope, and taking care of the guy next to us. That’s what it’s all about. So I just wanted to share that.”
Nichols’ demise on Jan. 10 led to 5 Memphis cops being fired, arrested and charged in connection together with his beating. They every face costs of second-degree homicide, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression. All 5 are Black.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham additionally addressed Nichols’ passing in his personal pregame press convention.
“Our prayers and condolences go out to the Nichols family. God rest his soul,” Ham mentioned. “Extremely unfortunate situation, tragic on every level. And the whole entire city of Memphis. … To see that was bone chilling, man. It’s unfortunate. (It) just shows that we need to continue the process of trying to correct people who are put in position to protect and serve and maintain peace, not to harass and intimidate and be the authors of chaos.”
Earlier Saturday, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens lauded Mazzulla’s management on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
“He’s a leader,” Stevens mentioned. “He’s invested, and everyone in the gym knows he’s going to work … You’re not going to be perfect … the key is to get right back at it and make those corrections. And he’s terrific at that.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com