Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla wore a shirt that read, “But First Let Me Thank God” across the front of it as he and his players celebrated winning the franchise’s 18th championship. Mazzulla, who speaks often about his Christian faith, wasted no time praising God after the Celtics’ 18-point win in Game 5 in Boston. The 35-year-old head coach wore a black crewneck throughout the series-clinching game and appeared to come fully prepared with his shirt underneath.

Mazzulla went viral ahead of Game 2 of the NBA Finals when a reporter predictably brought up the topic of race during a pregame press conference. The reporter prefaced his question to Mazzulla by explaining that this was the first time since 1975 that two black head coaches – with Jason Kidd of the Mavericks being on the other bench – squared off for the NBA title. They then proceeded to ask the head coach if he found that fact significant given “the plight” of black head coaches in the NBA. Mazzulla wasn’t having it and immediately hit the reporter back with a question of his own.

Mazzulla said, to which the reporter said nothing in return, “I wonder how many of those have been Christian coaches?” This isn’t the first time Mazzulla has offered up a stark, faith-based response when asked a question unrelated to the game being played on the floor. During a postgame press conference in December of last year, he was asked if he met the Royal Family after Prince William and Kate Middleton attended a Celtics game.

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph?” he asked jokingly. “I’m only familiar with one royal family.” With their dominant series victory over Dallas, the Celtics now hold the title of most championships in NBA history with 18, one more than the Los Angeles Lakers.