Boston’s Joe Mazzella wins NBA Coach of the Year, echoing claims it should be a staff award

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Boston’s Joe Mazzella wins NBA Coach of the Year, echoing claims it should be a staff award

Joe Mazzella of the Boston Celtics was asked a few months ago about his chances of winning the Coach of the Year award this season, and his answer was short.

“I don’t need it,” he said back in March. “I think it’s a stupid award.”

On Tuesday, Mazzella won a silly prize.

Mazzulla has been announced as the NBA’s top coach for 2025-26, after the Celtics earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference — despite playing most of the season without Jayson Tatum while he recovers from Achilles surgery and amid a much-anticipated rebuild following the departures of players like Al Horford, Kristaps Horngilis and Jruengilis.

To be clear, Mazzula’s rejection of the award in March was for one reason — he thinks it should be a “coaching team of the year” award rather than a “coach of the year,” and that’s a classy approach. He reiterated that on Tuesday night when he announced his victory, beginning his speech on NBC by thanking them for what they did.

“The long nights, the travel, the game shows, the guys filming and coding, the assistants putting in the game plan, I think it’s a lot to win one game,” Mazzula said. “It starts with the players, but it goes down to our staff. I’m sad that they’re not there – but I’m very grateful to the guys we have who sacrifice time with their families and their time to give us a chance to win every day.”

The 37-year-old Mazzulla is the youngest winner of the award since Phil Johnson in 1975, the NBA said.

Fittingly, the Celtics coach will receive the Red Auerbach Trophy – named after the legendary Celtics coach. Mazzulla becomes the fourth Boston coach to win the award, following Auerbach in 1965, Tom Heisohn in 1973 and Bill Fitch in 1980. Auerbach, a Hall of Famer, guided the Celtics to nine NBA championships, including eight in a row from 1959 to 1966.

“This is an honor and a testament to both Joe and his staff,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens. “With everything we can do going into this season, Joe has done a fantastic job and has grown the team. He puts everything he has into competing at the highest level, while helping the players to find the best version of themselves within the framework of the club.”

Detroit’s JB Bickerstaff – for the second year in a row – finished second, while San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson finished third.

The award is based on regular season results only. Votes from a panel of 100 NBA reporters and broadcasters were cast during the playoffs, which took place more than a month ago.

The Coach of the Year award — presented Tuesday is separate from the one presented earlier this spring by the National Basketball Coaches Association, which Bickerstaff won — is the last of the NBA’s major awards to commemorate the best of the 2025-26 season.

List of prizes:

– Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City: Most Valuable Player and Clutch Player of the Year.

— Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio: Defensive Player of the Year.

– Cooper Flagg, Dallas: Rookie of the Year.

– Keldon Johnson, San Antonio: Sixth Man of the Year.

– Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta: Most Improved Player.

– Bam Adebayo, Miami: Social Justice Champion.

– Derrick White, Boston: Sportsmanship Award.

– DeAndre Jordan, New Orleans: Twyman-Stokes Player of the Year.

– Brad Stevens, Boston: Manager of the Year.

– Moussa Diabaté, Charlotte: Hustle Award.

– All-NBA, All-Defensive and All-Rookie team.