Joe Mazzulla did not hold back when discussing the NBA Coach of the Year award, dismissing it entirely despite its prestige.
The Boston Celtics head coach made his feelings clear in a blunt response that quickly gained attention. While the award is one of the league’s most recognized honors, Mazzulla sees little value in it.
Mazzulla’s stance goes against decades of tradition. Some of the NBA’s greatest coaches have built legacies around it, but for Mazzulla, the focus lies elsewhere.
Joe Mazzulla calls the NBA Coach of the Year a ‘stupid award’
Speaking in a clip shared by CLNS Media Boston Sports Network, he made his position unmistakably clear.
“I think it’s a stupid award, they shouldn’t have it. And it’s more about the players and it’s more about the work that the staff puts in. It’s just that simple,” Mazzulla said.
The Celtics head coach added: “I really don’t ever want to be asked or talked about it again. It’s just that dumb. So, the players play, it’s about them. Staff works their a__ off. Grateful for them.”
Mazzulla’s comments underline his belief that success in the NBA is driven more by players and collective effort than individual coaching recognition.
It is a perspective that contrasts sharply with how the award is traditionally viewed across the league. That is what made his remarks stand out so strongly.
NBA coaches with the most Coach of the Year awards
The Coach of the Year award has historically been dominated by some of the NBA’s most respected figures, highlighting its long-standing significance.
Don Nelson, Pat Riley, and Gregg Popovich are tied for the most wins in NBA history, each having claimed the award three times.
Riley won the award in 1990, 1993, and 1997, while Popovich earned his three honors in 2003, 2012, and 2014.
Other notable multi-time winners include Hubie Brown and Mike D’Antoni, both of whom won the award twice across different eras. The list reflects how the award has often recognised sustained excellence and influence over time.
That context makes Mazzulla’s comments even more striking. He is dismissing an honor that many of the game’s greatest coaches have valued and achieved.
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