As they strategy a season stuffed with uncertainty, the Boston Celtics have locked up the person steering the ship.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla agreed to a multi-year extension, the workforce introduced on Friday. Phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed.
“That is actually a blessing,” Mazzulla stated in an announcement. “I might not be right here with out my religion, my spouse and my youngsters … Most significantly, I’m grateful for the gamers I’ve been capable of coach the previous three seasons. I sit up for competing for the Celtics and the town 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 is led them to a 246-182 regular-season file, profitable 74 per cent of video games.
That success has translated to the playoffs as effectively, with Mazzulla’s Celtics holding a 33-17 post-season file, together with a championship in 2024. Mazzulla was the youngest head coach to win an NBA Finals because the 1968-69 season, when a 35-year-old Invoice Russell led the Celtics as a player-coach.
Mazzulla sticking round for the foreseeable future is a welcome change of tempo for a Boston workforce that is gone by means of loads of turnover in current months.
After the Celtics have been bounced within the East semis — their earliest playoff exit since 2021 — the roster was gutted, primarily for monetary flexibility. Starters Jrue Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis have been traded away to get Boston underneath the second apron, whereas backup massive man Luke Kornet left the workforce in free company. In the meantime, all indicators appear to point that longtime vet and present unrestricted free agent Al Horford will not be returning to the Celtics both.
In the meantime, Jayson Tatum’s standing for subsequent season stays up within the air after the star ahead suffered an Achilles damage within the second spherical of the playoffs.
The Celtics have gained a minimum of 57 video games in every of Mazzulla’s three seasons manning the sidelines, nevertheless it’ll be fairly the accomplishment if he can maintain that streak going with a largely new forged.
“We’re very excited that Joe has agreed to increase with the Celtics,” stated Stevens, who now serves because the Celtics’ president of basketball operations. “He understands the job and has a ardour for the Celtics that’s solely rivalled by our most die-hard followers. He’s labored exhausting 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, enhancing and maximizing every day we get to compete for the Boston Celtics.”
