Celtics' Joe Mazzulla to coach Team Giannis in 2023 NBA All-Star Game

Boston Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla and his staff will coach Team Giannis in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in Utah, the NBA announced tonight.

Mazzulla earned the spot because the Celtics have clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference through games played on Feb. 5 (including tiebreaker scenarios).

This is only the third time in the last 24 years that an All-Star team will be guided by a first-year NBA head coach.

TNT will televise the 2023 NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 19 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.

The two captains, Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James, will draft their teams right before tip-off.

Mazzulla took over as Boston's interim head coach following Ime Udoka's year-long suspension after an investigation revealed multiple "policy violations" including an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.

Despite being thrown into the deep end in his first head-coaching gig, Mazzulla has led the Celtics to the NBA's best record (36-15). Boston currently boasts the NBA's third-best offense (scoring 115.2 points per 100 possessions) and sixth-best defense (allowing 109.3 points per 100 possessions).