Joe Mazzulla is sticking round Causeway Road for the foreseeable future.
The Celtics introduced Friday that they’d signed the NBA championship-winning head coach to a multi-year contract extension.
In a team-released assertion, Mazzulla mentioned the extension is “really a blessing.”
“I might not be right here with out my religion, my spouse, and my kids,” he mentioned. “We’re grateful for the partnership with our possession teams, Brad (Stevens)’s mentorship, and the assist of our workers. Most significantly, I’m grateful for the gamers I’ve been in a position to coach the previous three seasons. I look ahead to competing for the Celtics and the town of Boston.”
The 37-year-old Mazzulla, who was elevated from his earlier function as a Celtics assistant simply earlier than the 2022-23 season, owns a profession head-coaching document of 182-64, profitable no less than 57 video games in every of his first three seasons as Boston’s bench boss.
The Johnston, R.I., native steered a loaded Celtics roster to an NBA title in 2024 – changing into the youngest NBA head coach to win all of it since Invoice Russell in 1969 – then went 61-21 this previous season earlier than being upset by the New York Knicks within the Japanese Convention semifinals.
“We’re very excited that Joe has agreed to increase with the Celtics,” Stevens, Boston’s president of basketball operations, mentioned in an announcement. “He understands the job and has a ardour for the Celtics that’s solely rivaled by our most diehard followers. He’s labored arduous and completed superb issues in his first three years as a head coach – together with averaging over 60 wins per season and profitable the 2024 NBA Championship. Joe is a gifted chief who brings a constant dedication to studying, bettering and maximizing every day we get to compete for the Boston Celtics.”
Stevens had sidestepped a number of questions on Mazzulla’s contract standing this offseason, saying he and the staff would “maintain any of these discussions in-house.” He commonly praised Mazzulla, nevertheless, stressing in his end-of-season information convention that the Celtics have been “fortunate that we have now Joe right here.”
“We’ve acquired Joe beneath contract for a number of years proper now,” Stevens mentioned on NBA draft night time in late June. “So we definitely need Joe to be round right here for a very long time.”
Regardless of his stellar document as a head coach, Mazzulla has confronted criticism for his technique and recreation administration, most just lately within the Knicks collection. His 2024-25 Celtics made and tried extra 3-pointers than any staff in NBA historical past, and that method burned them within the first two video games of the East semis, throughout which they went 25-for-100 from deep whereas blowing back-to-back 20-point leads.
Mazzulla additionally continued to play middle Kristaps Porzingis within the collection, at the same time as signs from a lingering viral illness severely restricted his effectiveness.
After bearing the load of championship expectations in every of his first three seasons, Mazzulla now faces a distinct problem in Yr 4: teaching a staff few imagine shall be a respectable contender.
After being bounced by New York in six video games, the Celtics gutted their roster in pursuit of luxurious tax financial savings and increased “flexibility.” Porzingis, Jrue Vacation and Luke Kornet all have been traded or left in free company – with Al Horford anticipated to comply with go well with within the coming weeks – and have been changed by Anfernee Simons, Luka Garza, Josh Minott, 19-year-old first-round draft pick Hugo Gonzalez and new signee Chris Boucher. Veteran Georges Niang was acquired within the Porzingis deal after which traded once more, together with two future second-round draft picks, for undrafted rookie wing RJ Luis Jr., who’s on a two-way contract.
Of that crop of newcomers, solely Simons has been a starting-caliber participant within the NBA.
Most significantly, Boston additionally shall be with out its All-NBA centerpiece for many or all the upcoming season as Jayson Tatum recovers from the ruptured Achilles that ended his 2025 playoffs.
Tatum seems to be progressing properly in his restoration – he was not carrying a strolling boot when he attended a Patriots practice on Wednesday and joined Mazzulla for a neighborhood occasion in Rhode Island on Thursday – however the staff has not introduced a timetable for his return to the courtroom. Stevens has mentioned he gained’t be again till he’s “absolutely prepared and absolutely wholesome.”
How the notoriously intense, hyper-competitive Mazzulla handles a season that possible will function many extra losses than any of his earlier campaigns shall be one of many high Celtics storylines when coaching camp ideas off in late September, together with how Jaylen Brown will fare as the brand new No. 1 possibility in Tatum’s absence.
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