Celtics’ ‘royalty’ status Joe Mazzulla factored into Mike Conley Jr.’s signing

NBA veteran guard Mike Conley Jr. inked a one-year deal with the Boston Celtics, which was a decision that head coach Joe Mazzulla and the league’s most-storied franchise played a significant part. Ahead of his 20th season, Conley Jr. penned a heartfelt farewell letter to the fans of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who he spent the past three and a half years playing for.

Before his first season with the Celtics, Conley Jr. reportedly has the utmost respect for the organization and its head coach in Mazzulla, according to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski.

“What appealed to him about Boston was A. He’s never been in the Eastern Conference, but B. I was told that Mike really wanted to at least spend one year playing for a flagship franchise,” Krawczynski said. “It’s nothing against the Grizzlies, or the Jazz, or the Wolves, but none of those teams are in royalty with the NBA. The Boston Celtics are historic. They have a history and a gravitas about them. Conley wanted to experience what it was like playing for that kind of franchise, with that kind of fanbase and that kind of lure about them.

“I also know that he has a lot of respect for Joe Mazzulla and for the way that he coaches, and the way that he goes about things. He wanted to, at least once in his career, see what it was like to be at the very top end of the pecking order when it comes to NBA franchises. I think he’s really looking forward to just being in that organization, being in that building every night, seeing what the differences are with that kind of a franchise versus the ones that he’s used to playing with.”

After Mike Conley Jr. helped lead the Timberwolves to two Western Conference Finals appearances in three years, his leadership role, especially alongside All-Star Anthony Edwards, is what Celtics fans are anticipating most about the 38-year-old guard.

“Mike Conley is just one of the saving graces of this last four years for the Timberwolves. He came to Minnesota at a time where the acclimation of Rudy Gobert to this team was a little bit rocky. It was not working great at the start of his tenure with Minnesota. And they needed a point guard who could really show everyone how to go about incorporating him into the offense, how to play off him defensively, and Mike had a lot of experience playing with Rudy in Utah.

“So, they traded for Mike Conley midway through Rudy’s second year in Minnesota. And not only did he kind of bring Rudy along and get everyone on the same page there, but he’s just one of the very best leaders, communicators, and one of the smartest basketball players you’re ever going to be around. He was the connective tissue behind all of this.”

Conley Jr., who turns 39 next month, could take on a similar mentor role for Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum, and Payton Pritchard in 2026-27.

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