Boston Celtics
“This award belongs to our staff, who are there for the guys every day. … This award should be named Staff of the Year.”
Joe Mazzulla led the Celtics to 56 wins in what was considered to be a bridge year. Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe
Joe Mazzulla is taking home some individual hardware — much to his chagrin.
The Celtics head coach was named the NBA Coach of the Year for the 2025-26 season on Tuesday, becoming the first Celtics coach to win the accolade since Bill Fitch in 1980. Mazzulla is the fourth Celtics coach to win the honor, joining Fitch, Tommy Heinsohn (1972-73), and Red Auerbach (1964-65).
“Thank you to the Lord for the platform he has given me, and to my wife and family who support me on this journey,” Mazzulla said in a team press release. “Thank you to our players who compete and give it everything they have each night. I am grateful for every member of the Celtics organization whose dedication impacts winning every day.
“This award belongs to our staff, who are there for the guys every day. Their relentless work ethic improves our team daily. This award should be named Staff of the Year.”
Expectations were low for the Celtics and Mazzulla entering the 2025-26 campaign — a season seemingly destined to be a bridge year for a Boston franchise that had been dealt several setbacks during the spring and summer of 2025.
Boston was staring at the real possibility of playing the entire 2025-26 season without star Jayson Tatum after he ruptured his Achilles tendon in the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals. And, a subsequent cap crunch and the need to alleviate looming luxury-tax ramifications forced Boston to overhaul its roster.
Despite that talent drain and several unproven players earning elevated minutes, Mazzulla and the Celtics showed few signs of regression this past year. They finished second overall in the Eastern Conference with a record of 56-26.
“This is well-deserved recognition and a testament to both Joe and his staff,” Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in a release. “With all of our unknowns entering the season, Joe did a fantastic job building and growing a team.
“He pours everything he has into competing at a high level, while helping players find the best versions of themselves within the framework of a team. On top of all of that, Joe leads with an authentic care for the Celtics and everyone he works with – players, coaches, and staff.”
Bolstered by the return of Tatum in March, the Celtics were seemingly poised to go on a surprise run this spring in what was considered to be a wide-open field in the Eastern Conference.
But, Boston’s playoff hopes were snuffed out in the first round. The Celtics coughed up a 3-1 series lead and lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games. It marked the first time in franchise history that the team lost a playoff series after initially being up 3-1.
Despite that disheartening end to the season, Mazzulla’s overall body of work — especially when weighed against the low expectations initially placed against his team — was enough to give him the edge over other NBA Coach of the Year finalists this year in Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff and San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson.
The usually blunt Mazzulla didn’t mince words in March when asked about being in consideration for the individual award.
“Don’t need it. I think it’s a stupid award and they shouldn’t have it,” Mazzulla said. “I don’t ever want to be asked or talk about it again. It’s just that dumb. The players play, it’s about them. The staff works their a– off. I’m grateful to have them.”
Sure enough, the Celtics press release announcing Mazzulla’s win took note of Boston’s entire coaching staff: Sam Cassell, Tony Dobbins, D.J. MacLeay, Da’Sean Butler, Nana Foulland, Amile Jefferson, Tyler Lashbrook, Craig Luschenat, Ross McMains, Alex Merg, Phil Pressey, God Shammgod Jr., and Steve Tchiengang.
The Celtics’ video posted after Mazzulla took home the honor also included photos of Boston’s full coaching staff.
Mazzulla, 37, has coached in Boston for four seasons, with a regular-season record of 238-90.
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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