Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics was named NBA Coach of the Year on Tuesday.
Mazzulla beat out J.B. Bickerstaff of the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson. The 37-year-old received 62 out of a possible 100 first-place votes to become the award's youngest recipient since Phil Johnson won in 1975 - at 33 years old - with the Kansas City-Omaha Kings.
A global media panel of 100 voters selected the 2025-26 NBA Coach of the Year.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 26, 2026
Complete voting results ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/es0GyIXSMe
Mazzulla is credited with guiding the undermanned Celtics to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Jayson Tatum missed 66 games, Al Horford and Luke Kornet departed in free agency last summer, and Kristaps Porzingis was traded to the Atlanta Hawks.
Mazzulla dismissed the entire idea of the award in March, saying: "I don't need it. I think it's a stupid award.
"They shouldn't have it. And it's more about the players. It's more about the work that the staff puts in. It's just that simple. I really don't ever want to be asked or talked about it again. It's just that dumb."
Mazzulla sounded more appreciative after receiving the award Tuesday but again stressed the contributions of the Celtics' players and his fellow coaches.
"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 obtained by The Athletic's Jay King. "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."
He's the fourth coach in franchise history to earn the honor since its inception at the conclusion of the 1962-63 campaign. Mazzulla joins Red Auerbach (1964-65), Tom Heinsohn (1972-73), and Bill Fitch (1979-80).
Mazzulla came third in Coach of the Year voting in 2023 and fourth in 2024 despite leading the Celtics to a league-best 64-18 regular-season record in the latter campaign.
