Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was named the NBA Coach of the Year on Tuesday night, earning the honor after guiding his team to 56 regular-season victories and the second seed in the Eastern Conference.
Mazzulla received 62 of 100 first-place votes, finishing with 392 total points.
He edged out Detroit Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff (312 points) and San Antonio Spurs coach Mitch Johnson (133 points).
Youngest Winner in 51 Years
At 37, Mazzulla became the youngest recipient of the coaching award in 51 years.
He is the first Boston Celtics head coach to win the honor since Bill Fitch in 1980.
The Celtics finished second in offensive rating and fourth in defensive rating under Mazzulla, despite significant roster changes.
President of basketball operations Brad Stevens retooled the team to lower payroll, trading Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, and losing Al Horford and Luke Kornet in free agency.
Jayson Tatum also missed the season due to a ruptured Achilles suffered in the previous postseason.
“Thank you to the Lord for the platform he has given me, and to my wife and family who support me on this journey,” Mazzulla said in a statement.
“Thank you to our players who compete and give it everything they have each night.
I am grateful for every member of the Celtics organization whose dedication impacts winning every day.
This award belongs to our staff, who are there for the guys every day. Their relentless work ethic improves our team daily.
This award should be named Staff of the Year.”
Mazzulla had previously expressed reservations about the individual accolade, noting it did not fully highlight the collective efforts of his assistants.
“This is well deserved recognition and a testament to both Joe and his staff,” said Brad Stevens.
“With all of our unknowns entering the season, Joe did a fantastic job building and growing a team.
He pours everything he has into competing at a high level, while helping players find the best versions of themselves within the framework of a team.
On top of all of that, Joe leads with an authentic care for the Celtics and everyone he works with — players, coaches, and staff.”
The roster development allowed younger players like Neemias Queta, Baylor Scheierman, and Jordan Walsh to find regular roles alongside Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard.
The Celtics' postseason ended with a first-round loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
