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Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla named finalist for NBA coach of the year
Mazzulla, along with Detroit's J.B. Bickerstaff and San Antonio's Mitch Johnson are in the running for the award.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla is one of three finalists for the NBA Coach of the Year award, the league announced Sunday night.
Detroit’s JB Bickerstaff and San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson are the other finalists. All three finalists coached their teams to top-two seeds in their respective conferences.
Detroit is the top-seed in the East. The Pistons went 14-68 two years ago before putting together a 60-win season this year. Bickerstaff was the betting favorite for most of the year before Mazzulla recently overtook him.
The Celtics, who played the bulk of this season without Jayson Tatum, are the No. 2 seed in the East. Many considered this to be a potential gap year because of how much time Tatum was expected to miss, along with the offseason departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet.
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The Spurs compiled the league’s second-best record with 62 wins this season. Led by Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle, San Antonio is once again a contender in the Western Conference. The Spurs went 34-48 last season under then-interim coach Mitch Johnson who took over for Gregg Popovich. The interim tag has since been removed, and the Spurs have taken their collective game to a new level.
The Celtics did not have finalists in the Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, Clutch Player, Most Valuable Player, and Rookie of the Year, categories.
Jaylen Brown was considered a fringe candidate for the MVP award, but did not make the top three. Neemias Queta was left out of the finalists for the Most Improved Player award despite doubling his scoring and rebounding averages as he settled into the starting center role for Boston this season and played a pivotal role on a team that finished top-three in rebounding.
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Jayson Tatum was named a finalist for the Tyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award. Former Celtic Marcus Smart, now on the Lakers, was also a finalist.
When asked about his candidacy for Coach of the Year, Mazzulla called the award stupid and said that he wished to never be asked about it again. He deflected praise towards his staff and the players for the impact they make within the franchise.
According to BetMGM, Mazzulla ended the regular-season as the favorite to win the award.
The NBA Coach of the Year award will be announced at a later date during this postseason.
The NBA will announce the winners for Defensive Player of the Year, Clutch Player of the Year, Sixth Man, Sportsmanship, and Most Improved Player this week.
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