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Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics
Joe Mazzulla was thrust into the Boston Celtics hot seat ahead of the 2022-23 NBA season.
Since then, Mazzulla has proven himself to be one of the most innovative and talented coaches in the NBA, leading the Celtics to a 2024 NBA championship.
During a recent conversation with Heavy on Sports, via Haypp, former Celtics player-turned-coach Evan Turner explained why he believes Mazzulla has plenty more success in his future.
“That culture, that mentality, obviously Joe being who he is, his upbringing, the Bob Huggins background,” Turner said. “He is tough-minded, but I think that sharks swim with sharks, and that’s why Brad brought him on for his staff and then had no hesitancy to give Joe that job once all that stuff went down.”
Turner continued.
“Joe’s a killer. I think you’re gonna see a lot of success from him. I think one thing that shocks you is that I’d probably be bragging about it, but those two (Mazzulla and Brad Stevens) stay humble, stay quiet, and they’ve got a bigger picture. Joe wants another championship. Brad wants to win everything.”
Since stepping into the Celtics’ hot seat, Mazzulla has coached 315 regular-season games, winning 228 and losing 87. He’s also coached 50 postseason games with a 33-17 record.
Joe Mazzulla Was Excited Ahead Of The Season
Before the 2025-26 season began, Turner spoke with Mazzulla about the upcoming campaign and how things would look following the loss of so many key contributors.
“I think Joe, his mentality has always been like, ‘yo, let’s go out and get it.’ Even in summer, when I’m like, ‘damn, Jayson’s down,” Turner said. “We went to this UFC fight, Joe and I. He’s just like, ‘No, it’s gonna be fun. It will give me an opportunity to, try out some different lineups, get creative and actually coach a little bit more.’”
Mazzulla has guided the Celtics to the second seed in the Eastern Conference. They’re a top-five roster in both offense and defense. Clearly, his coaching methods are working, and as a result, multiple members of the rotation have shown legitimate development throughout the campaign.
Turner Praised Celtics’ Brad Stevens
Later in the conversation, Turner praised Brad Stevens for the work he’s done since entering the front office. Turner played and coached for Stevens during his tenure on the Celtics sidelines.
“ Brad’s very intentional,” Turner said. “He’s not one of those guys who like to fly by the seat of their pants. So it’s not like, ‘hey, I saw this guy one time. I’m going off my gut instinct.’ Brad, he’s a numbers guy. He looks up numbers, looks up guys’ backgrounds, but he’s also a killer himself. So, he loves guys who compete. And I think he gets a lot out of how guys approach the game, how well they work, and how badly they compete.”
Turner continued.
“ I think one thing that Brad always preaches is just like, ‘hey, you need guys that are mentally strong and will go through the wall (for you). Because that’s who they are. And, I think with Brad, you see that in everything he does.”
Stevens has emerged as one of the best Presidents of Basketball Operations in the NBA. He’s masterminded a championship roster, and now a cost-cutting season while remaining incredibly competitive. Boston is lucky to have him leading the way in the front office.
Adam Taylor is a basketball reporter covering the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Miami Heat for Heavy. He holds bylines for CelticsBlog, USA Today and Yardbarker. Adam also covers the WWE and AEW. He has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Open University. More about Adam Taylor
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