NBA honours Mazzulla despite Celtics’ playoff exit
Joe Mazzulla becomes the first Celtics coach to win the award since 1980, overcoming low preseason expectations and a roster depleted by injuries.
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has been named the 2025-26 NBA Coach of the Year, securing the Red Auerbach Trophy in a decision that underscores the league’s focus on regular-season performance over postseason outcomes. The honour marks a significant milestone for the franchise, as Mazzulla becomes the first Celtics coach to receive the award since 1980.
The selection comes despite Mazzulla’s publicly expressed disdain for individual accolades. He has previously stated a preference for the recognition to be directed toward the entire coaching staff rather than a single individual. Nevertheless, voters recognised his ability to guide the team to a 56-26 regular-season record, a result that defied widespread pessimism ahead of the campaign.
Prior to the 2025-26 season, projections for the Celtics were notably low. Analysts and fans anticipated a decline in performance following the loss of several starters during the offseason and concerns regarding the health of star forward Jayson Tatum. Despite these challenges, the team secured its fourth consecutive 50-plus win campaign under Mazzulla’s leadership, finishing just five wins short of their total from the previous season.
Mazzulla’s tenure, which began in 2022, has been characterised by the management of a roster featuring high-profile talents such as Tatum and Jaylen Brown. While critics have occasionally pointed to the inherited talent as a factor in his success, Mazzulla previously led the Celtics to an NBA championship in 2024. The current award highlights his consistency in maintaining high performance levels across multiple seasons, even when facing roster turnover and injury concerns.
The regular-season achievement stands in contrast to the team’s 2026 playoff performance, where the Celtics were eliminated in seven games by the Philadelphia 76ers. However, the Coach of the Year award is strictly a regular-season honour, and the playoff exit does not diminish the statistical and tactical success achieved over the 82-game schedule. Mazzulla is now one of only four Celtics coaches to ever receive the prestigious honour.
While it remains unclear how Mazzulla will publicly respond to the award given his past comments, the recognition solidifies his standing within the league. Speculation suggests he is likely to return for the next season, with the organisation potentially aiming to address the roster health issues that impacted the previous campaign. The award serves as a formal acknowledgment of the structural stability Mazzulla has provided to the franchise.
