Youngest NBA Coach of the Year in 51 Years Despite Calling the Award ‘Dumb’

Despite a disappointing playoff exit with the Boston Celtics, coach Joe Mazzulla has received an individual honor. However, he openly admits to finding the award ‘dumb’.

Joe Mazzulla secured the Coach of the Year award by a significant margin. The Boston Celtics’ coach received 62 out of 100 first-place votes. 24 voters ranked Mazzulla second, and ten placed him third. He accumulated a total of 392 votes, finishing well ahead of J.B. Bickerstaff of the Detroit Pistons (312) and Mitch Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs (133).

Mazzulla becomes only the fourth Celtics coach in history to be honored as the NBA’s best coach in a season, following Bill Fitch (1980), Tommy Heinsohn (1973), and Red Auerbach (1965). At just 37 years old, he is also the youngest winner in 51 years. In 1975, Phil Johnson won at only 34 years old.

Before the season, many fans and experts anticipated a transitional year for the Celtics after superstar Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles tendon tear in the 2025 playoffs. Furthermore, Boston saw key players from recent years, such as Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford, depart.

Despite Tatum’s prolonged absence and the departures, Mazzulla led the Celtics to the second seed in the Eastern Conference. He guided the team to form the second-best offense and fourth-best defense during the regular season.

‘Dumb Award’: Mazzulla Criticized the COTY Award Just Weeks Ago

By the end of March, it was already clear that Mazzulla was a strong contender for the trophy. When asked about it at the time, he expressed little enthusiasm. Responding to a question about the award’s significance, he dryly stated, «I think it’s a dumb award.» The coach elaborated, «It really shouldn’t exist. It’s much more about the players and the work that the entire coaching staff puts in. It’s that simple. I never want to be asked about it or talk about it again.»

However, on Tuesday, Mazzulla appeared more willing to discuss and express gratitude. Nevertheless, he reiterated his focus on the other individuals within his franchise: «This is a credit to the players and a credit to the entire organization.»

He also immediately redirected the conversation back to his primary objective: «Regardless of what happens in the offseason, what moves are made, or whatever else occurs: the path to a championship must always be the ultimate goal, and we are committed to that.»

Following their championship title in 2024, the Celtics did not achieve this goal again in 2026. In the playoffs, Boston was surprisingly eliminated in the first round in seven games by the Philadelphia 76ers.

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