Joe Mazzulla gave one hell of an answer when asked about kissing the TD Garden floor

BOSTON – The Boston Celtics didn't miss a beat in Tuesday night's season-opening win over the Knicks, and head coach Joe Mazzulla is already in midseason form when it comes to his strange answers to the media.

Before his The Celtics beat the Knicks 132-109 at TD GardenMazzulla and his team picked up their 2024 NBA championship rings and raised a new banner from the rafters. The quirky head coach received a rousing ovation as he was introduced during the pre-game ceremony and kissed the famous hardwood floor before grabbing his ring.

After the game, Mazzulla was asked if he wanted to smooch the floor. And since he tended to give answers that were anything but ordinary, he was also asked what the soil tasted like.

Mazzulla did not disappoint with his answer.

“Blood,” Mazzulla said. “I mean, I wish it were.”

Yes, that's our Joe Mazzulla.

Why did Joe Mazzulla kiss the TD Garden floor before he got his ring?

Early in his time at the postgame podium, Mazzulla discussed the importance of garden soil. He said kissing the floor was a special moment and a way for him to express himself to former Celtics greats.

“The parquet is where the blood, sweat and tears of the greats are. So I can’t go out there and look for loose balls on the ground,” he said. “I would like to do or do something like that.

“It was a way to express the passion and gratitude I have for our team, for the people who came before it and for what it means to be a Celtic,” he continued. “So there’s no better place than the city and the team and just being in the arena with the people. That was important.”

Joe Mazzulla said championship rings were 'too big'

Boston's championship rings are pretty epic, to say the least. They are set with diamonds and the top can be removed to reveal even more incredible features.

It's a great way for Celtics players and coaches to take memories of their 2024 championship with them wherever they go. But don't expect Mazzulla to wear the ring when he heads out to grab a Del's Lemonade in the offseason.

“I don’t know when I got the ring, I just think it’s too big,” he said after the game. “I don't know why it's so big and I'll never wear it. But it’s cool to have, I thought.”