Giannis Antetokounmpo paid high praise to Celtics’ coach Joe Mazzulla

"It’s about the mentality that you instilled in your place.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo looks on from the bench during a Bucks-Grizzlies game in April. AP Photo/Aaron Gash

April 7, 2026 | 2:03 PM

2 minutes to read

Though Joe Mazzulla may argue with characteristic energy against not only the possibility of getting NBA Coach of the Year, but also the idea of the award itself, the inimitable Celtics‘ leader is one of the clear frontrunners.

The main reason has been his success coaching a team that was notably missing its top scorer (Jayson Tatum) much of the year as he rehabbed from a ruptured Achilles tendon, as well as the salary-saving moves made last summer to send multiple starters from the 2024 championship team elsewhere.

Despite the roster reset (and the prolonged absence of Tatum), Boston doesn’t seem to have lost a step. On the contrary, the Celtics are second in the Eastern Conference and currently hold the second-best odds to win an NBA title according to DraftKings.

Mazzulla’s unorthodox but relentless style has won praise from his players and the media, but also seems to have won a prominent fan in Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The 31-year-old has endured a difficult season in Milwaukee, as the team tried unsuccessfully to assemble a championship-contending roster around its Greek superstar. The result has been a 31-47 record and no playoffs for the first time in a decade.

Amid ongoing speculation about Antetokounmpo’s future with the Bucks, he spoke to Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel about his current mindset.

Despite the possibility of a trade, Antetokounmpo insisted that he wants to remain in Milwaukee. Citing a need for a winning culture, he referenced Mazzulla and the Celtics.

“Everything about my decision is based on winning; culture,” Antetokounmpo told Nickel. “Like you saw I talked with [Boston] coach Joe Mazzulla. I said, ‘You had so many opportunities to make excuses, but you didn’t.’ [The Celtics started the season slow.] And he said, ‘Oh, they’re good players.’

“I said, no. It’s about the mentality that you instilled in your place,” Antetokounmpo added.

Along with Mazzulla, Antetokounmpo also used his national team coach, Vassilis Spanoulis, as a figure to look toward.

“Vassilis Spanoulis – the same thing,” he said to Nickel. “That why I love Spanoulis. It’s about the mentality that he’s instilled in the [Greek] national team, that we are here to give everything that we have. We are here to bond together. We are here to figure out ways to win. No excuses. Move as a group and you move as a unit. I love that.”

Interesting, Antetokounmpo appeared to contrast that approach with the current mentality of the Bucks, led by former Celtics head coach Doc Rivers.

“As long as it’s great organized basketball and a team that’s willing to play selfless basketball, and chase some goal that’s bigger than themselves, I’ll be here,” he said. “Do you see that with the Bucks? You’ve been around, what 10 years? You tell me what you see.”

Despite Antetokounmpo’s kind words about Mazzulla, it’s extremely unlikely that the Celtics would end up as one of the contending parties attempting to acquire Antetokounmpo in the offseason. Milwaukee has reportedly been seeking a major deal involving multiple players in return for Antetokoumnpo.

The Celtics, meanwhile, continue their journey tonight at home against the Hornets at 8 p.m.