Celtics' Joe Mazzulla Wins 2025-26 NBA Coach of the Year Award over J.B. Bickerstaff, Mitch Johnson
Bleacher Report • • sports
Key Points:
- Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics has been named the NBA Coach of the Year for the 2025-26 season, despite his public dismissal of the award as "stupid" and unnecessary.
- The Celtics overcame low expectations following Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury and offseason roster changes, finishing second in the Eastern Conference with a 56-26 record and a top-four net rating in the league.
- Jaylen Brown stepped up as the team's lead star during Tatum's absence, achieving career highs in points, rebounds, and assists, while Payton Pritchard successfully transitioned into a starting role.
- Veteran center Nikola Vučević adapted to a bench role for the first time in his career but remained effective, highlighting the team's depth and versatility.
- The Celtics' success this season exemplifies the franchise's tradition of being greater than the sum of its parts, with contributions from lesser-known players like Neemias Queta, Jordan Walsh, and Baylor Scheierman alongside core members from their 2024 title run.