Joe Mazzulla named NBA Coach of the Year after Celtics overcame Jayson Tatum injury, numerous personnel changes to claim No. 2 seed
Yahoo Sports • • general
Key Points:
- Joe Mazzulla led the Boston Celtics to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference despite significant challenges, including Jayson Tatum missing most of the season and key player trades.
- Mazzulla won the NBA Coach of the Year award for the first time, receiving 62 of 100 first-place votes and beating finalists J.B. Bickerstaff and Mitch Johnson.
- The Celtics exceeded expectations largely due to Jaylen Brown's career-high scoring average and strong team defense, which helped compensate for Tatum's absence.
- Mazzulla credited his coaching staff and players for the team's success, emphasizing the collective effort behind winning games.
- Despite this accolade, Mazzulla values winning a championship more highly and continues to build his reputation as one of the top coaches in the NBA.