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

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

Mazzulla earned the spot because the Celtics have clinched thebest 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 anAll-Star team will be guided by a first-year NBA head coach.

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

The two captains, Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James, willdraft their teams right beforetip-off.

Mazzulla took over as Boston's interim head coach following ImeUdoka's year-long suspension afteran investigation revealed multiple "policy violations" including aninappropriate relationship with a subordinate.

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