Joe Mazzulla reveals he and Jayson Tatum watched BATMAN together for lesson on how to 'handle pressure' before Celtics' NBA finals win

Joe Mazzulla led the Celtics to their 18th NBA title in a very unconventional way, the head coach revealed. 

During an appearance on Barstool Sports podcast Pardon My Take, the 35-year-old said he watched the famed interrogation scene from The Dark Knight with Jayson Tatum in an effort to help his star player deal with the pressure. 

'So when we were working on how we're going to handle expectations, pressure ... we [watched] the scene where Batman goes into the interrogation room with Joker and they're talking,' he said of the scene featuring Heath Ledger's Joker and Christian Bale's Batman. 


'Batman's like "why do you want to kill me?" And like the Joker starts laughing. He's like, "I don't want to kill you." He's like, "I need you. You complete me." And it was like the coolest moment,' Mazzulla went on. 

'Like good and evil has to coexist. Differences have to coexist in order to bring the best out of each other and the people around you. So like, Dark Knight, great movie.' 

Joe Mazzulla watched the interrogation scene from The Dark Knight with Jayson Tatum

Joe Mazzulla watched the interrogation scene from The Dark Knight with Jayson Tatum

The head coach said he did so in an effort to help his star player deal with the 'pressure'

The head coach said he did so in an effort to help his star player deal with the 'pressure'

Mazzulla, who became the youngest coach to win an NBA title since 1970 when the Celtics defeated the Mavericks 106-88 Monday night, has made headlines for his quirky behavior. 

While his triumphant players wasted no time popping champagne bottles, Mazzulla celebrated the franchise's historic victory in the most wholesome fashion. 

He remained at TD Garden for hours after the game ended, and was seen holding hands with his wife, Camai Mazzulla, as they did laps around the empty arena. 

'It's 3:20a.m. and Joe Mazzulla and his wife are holding hands, walking around the parquet,' Boston Herald reporter Andrew Callahan wrote on X.

The 35-year-old became the youngest coach to win an NBA title since 1970 on Monday night

The 35-year-old became the youngest coach to win an NBA title since 1970 on Monday night

It was also the first time since 1975 that both head coaches in the finals were Black

It was also the first time since 1975 that both head coaches in the finals were Black

'They've done a few laps already. Mazzulla is pointing to a few places around the arena. Soaking it all in,' he added.

Earlier in the series, Joe stunned the press room into silence when he awkwardly dodged a reporter's question about race during a press conference.

He was asked about the reverence of the NBA finals featuring two Black head coaches for the first time in nearly half a century.

Both he and the Mavericks head coach, Jason Kidd, are Black. 

'For the first time since 1975, this is the NBA Finals where you have two black head coaches,' Yahoo Sports reporter Vince Goodwill began.  

'Given the plight, sometimes of black head coaches in the NBA, do you think this is a significant moment? Do you take pride in this? How do you view this or do you not see it at all?' the journalist asked Joe.

He bizarrely dodged the question by touting his Christian faith in a very blunt response.  

'I wonder how many of those have been Christian coaches,' he replied, before the room fell silent for almost 10 seconds. 

His reply appeared to be a reference to the fact that Kidd also identifies as a Catholic. 

After the game, Mazzulla celebrated the victory by walking around the empty arena

After the game, Mazzulla celebrated the victory by walking around the empty arena