Joe Mazzulla of Celtics named NBA Coach of Year 2025-26 season

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was named the NBA’s Coach of the Year on Tuesday, an honor he had previously dismissed as “stupid” because he believes it should recognize an entire staff rather than an individual. The 37-year-old guided the Celtics to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference despite the extended absence of star forward Jayson Tatum, who missed most of the season recovering from Achilles surgery.

Mazzulla received the Red Auerbach Trophy, named for the legendary Celtics coach, after securing 62 first-place votes from a panel of 100 reporters and broadcasters. He finished with 392 total points, ahead of Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff (312 points) and San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson (133 points). The award is based solely on regular-season performance.

In remarks following the announcement, Mazzulla immediately shifted credit to his players and assistants. He said there is so much that goes into winning a single game, and that it starts with the players but extends to the entire staff. Mazzulla expressed gratitude for the work of video coordinators, assistant coaches, and support personnel who sacrifice time with their families to prepare the team.