As they approach a season full of uncertainty, the Boston Celtics have locked up the man steering the ship.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla agreed to a multi-year extension, the team announced on Friday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“This is truly a blessing,” Mazzulla said in a statement. “I would not be here without my faith, my wife and my children … Most importantly, I am grateful for the players I have been able to coach the past three seasons. I look forward to competing for the Celtics and the city of Boston.”
Mazzulla, 36, took over as head coach of the Celtics in 2022 after three seasons as an assistant behind Brad Stevens and Ime Udoka. Since taking the helm, he’s led them to a 246-182 regular-season record, winning 74 per cent of games.
That success has translated to the playoffs as well, with Mazzulla’s Celtics holding a 33-17 post-season record, including a championship in 2024. Mazzulla was the youngest head coach to win an NBA Finals since the 1968-69 season, when a 35-year-old Bill Russell led the Celtics as a player-coach.
Mazzulla sticking around for the foreseeable future is a welcome change of pace for a Boston team that’s gone through plenty of turnover in recent months.
After the Celtics were bounced in the East semis — their earliest playoff exit since 2021 — the roster was gutted, primarily for financial flexibility. Starters Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were traded away to get Boston under the second apron, while backup big man Luke Kornet left the team in free agency. Meanwhile, all signs seem to indicate that longtime vet and current unrestricted free agent Al Horford won’t be returning to the Celtics either.
Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum’s status for next season remains up in the air after the star forward suffered an Achilles injury in the second round of the playoffs.
The Celtics have won at least 57 games in each of Mazzulla’s three seasons manning the sidelines, but it’ll be quite the accomplishment if he can keep that streak going with a largely new cast.
“We are very excited that Joe has agreed to extend with the Celtics,” said Stevens, who now serves as the Celtics’ president of basketball operations. “He understands the job and has a passion for the Celtics that is only rivalled by our most die-hard fans. He’s worked hard and accomplished amazing things in his first three years as a head coach, including averaging over 60 wins per season and winning the 2024 NBA championship. Joe is a gifted leader who brings a consistent commitment to learning, improving and maximizing each day we get to compete for the Boston Celtics.”
from Sportsnet.ca
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