Joe Mazzulla believed Brandon Jennings’ criticism of Jayson Tatum was worthy of metaphorical fisticuffs.

“My first thought was, that’s when you use one of your coins. That’s a coin,” Mazzulla said Thursday on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Zolak & Bertrand” when asked about Jennings calling Tatum “the softest superstar in Celtics history.”

That was a reference to an on-brand idea Mazzulla pitched in a previous “Zolak & Bertrand” interview. The concept: Everyone should get five “coins” per year that can be cashed in to pick a fight with whomever they’d like.

Tatum chose to respond to Jennings — a former NBA journeyman who played for five franchises in the 2010s — on social media instead, posting a compilation of photos and highlight clips with the caption: “SoFtesT SuPeRstar in CeLtiC HiStoRy.”

Mazzulla went on to strongly defend his star player in the same radio interview, calling Tatum “one of the best Celtics of all time” while stressing the need to ignore outsiders’ opinions.

“It’s unfortunate that him, in particular, but the players have to feel like they have to fight for that constant affirmation,” the Celtics head coach said. “So the thing that I try to do the most is (stress) that we don’t have to be affirmed by other peoples’ opinions. Jayson is an unbelievable player. He’s been a great player, one of the best Celtics of all time. The facts speak for themselves, and it’s part of the ultimate compliment that they have to defend that.

“I think that’s part of the responsibility and the ownership of playing for such a historic franchise, but that’s also the compliment because we get to go to be absolutely one of the best. And I think he is that. I think he works towards that every day. We just don’t have to be affirmed by other people’s opinions, especially when they’re not in the arena. So that’s my take on it, and I’m grateful to coach him.”

Tatum’s career accomplishments — five-time All-Star, three-time first-team All-NBA, NBA champion — haven’t shielded him from criticism from pundits and particular ex-players, like Jennings. Mazzulla views those critiques as both compliments and unavoidable realities for the modern athlete, but he said the barbs directed at Tatum are undeserved.

“It’s the gift and the curse of the society that we live in,” Mazzulla said. “You’re just allowed to say anything and whatever that you want. So as a player, as an organization, as a team, as a locker room, you just have to fight to listen to the people that matter the most in your life and in your career. Again, it goes back to, I think it’s the ultimate compliment. You can’t not deal with the criticism if you want the praise at the same time. That’s just kind of how it works. And I wouldn’t even say that’s criticism; that’s just more of an opinion.

“You just have to fight to not be affirmed by other people’s opinions. At the end of the day, that opinion has absolutely no ramifications on his career, his path, the game (Friday), practice. It just doesn’t really mean anything, and it goes back to what I talked about at the beginning of the year: In the arena, you have a choice to decide how you’re going to deal with the power of other people’s words, and they’re just words. But nothing should ever be taken away from (Tatum’s) career, though, in my opinion. The reason why he gets that is because of how good he is.”

Tatum enters Friday night’s matchup with the Sacramento Kings at TD Garden as the NBA’s fourth-leading scorer and the Celtics’ leader in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game.