Field Level Media
27 May 2026, 06:10 GMT+10
(Photo credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images)
Guiding the Boston Celtics to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference despite missing superstar Jayson Tatum until March 6, Joe Mazzulla was named NBA Coach of the Year for the first time on Tuesday.
Mazzulla, 37, received 62 first-place votes, 24 second-place votes and 10 third-place votes and finished with 392 points. The Detroit Pistons' J.B. Bickerstaff finished second with 312 points, followed by the San Antonio Spurs' Mitch Johnson (133 points).
Mazzulla led the Celtics to a 56-26 record, including a 51-19 mark after they lost seven of their first 12 games. Boston has won at least 56 games in each of Mazzulla's four seasons at the helm.
Under Mazzulla's guidance, the Celtics ranked second in offensive rating (120.0) and fourth in defensive rating (111.7) and net rating (8.3).
The Rhode Island native is the first Celtics coach to win the award since Bill Fitch in 1979-80 and the fourth in franchise history, along with Tom Heinsohn (1972-73) and Red Auerbach (1964-65), for whom the award is named.
Mazzulla is also the youngest recipient since Phil Johnson, who was 33 when he won in 1974-75 with the Kansas City-Omaha Kings.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of San Jose Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to San Jose Sun.
More Information(Photo credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images) Guiding the Boston Celtics to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference despite missing...
(Photo credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images) The Awa Fam era has started in Seattle. The No. 3 overall pick in this spring's WNBA...
(Photo credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images) Green Bay Packers star running back Josh Jacobs was arrested on Tuesday on five charges,...
(Photo credit: Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) The NCAA denied Brendan Sorsby's request for...
(Photo credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images) The Seattle Mariners smacked four homers while routing the Athletics in the opener of...
(Photo credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images) Top prospect Gage Jump was recalled by the Athletics and will be thrown immediately into...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks returned from the long Memorial Day weekend with a split performance on Tuesday, as technology shares...
SHANGHAI/BEIJING, China: Huawei Technologies said on May 25 that it plans to produce semiconductors with transistor density equivalent...
FRANKFURT/MILAN: Delivery Hero shares surged to their highest level in 18 months on May 25 after a report said Uber was considering...
BEIJING, China: Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek said on May 23 that it will permanently maintain a steep 75% reduction...
TAIPEI, Taiwan: Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang said on May 23 that China remains part of the company's projected $200...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Airline passengers hoping to use frequent flyer miles and travel rewards this summer may find their points...
