Celtics HC Joe Mazulla Calls Coach of the Year Award "Stupid"

Joe Mazulla has labeled the NBA’s Coach of the Year Award “stupid” and “dumb,” suggesting the league should not even have one.

The Boston Celtics head coach was asked about potentially winning the accolade on Monday and wasn’t in any mood to discuss it.

“I don’t need it,” he said, per The Athletic’s Jay King. “I think it’s a stupid award. They shouldn’t have it. And it’s more about the players. It’s more about the work that the staff puts in. It’s just that simple. I really don’t ever want to be asked or talk about it again. It’s just that dumb. So, the players play. It’s about them. Staff works their [expletive] off. I’m grateful to have them.”

Whether he likes it or not, Mazulla is being considered for the award after guiding Boston to a 50-win season, their fifth in as many years.

The 50-25 Celtics are second in the Eastern Conference despite being without Jayson Tatum for most of the season.

Hawks’ Quinn Snyder Praises Joe Mazulla

Perhaps Mazulla was a bit salty after losing to the Atlanta Hawks on the night.

But Hawks HC Quinn Snyder was full of praise for his contemporary after the 112-102 win.

“I’ll say it again,” Snyder said. “Anytime your roster changes, when you lose a player of Jayson Tatum’s caliber, you adjust. I think that’s in this league, as coaches, that’s a big part of the job. Not just that, but trying to find efficiencies and what they’ve done as far as the way they play. They’ve got a real purpose with what they do on both ends of the floor. They do a great job of protecting the paint and (are) just really aggressive with their help situations. And then, the offensive stuff is really the part that people look at the most.

“And it’s a credit to (Payton) Pritchard, (Jaylen) Brown, a lot of guys that have (been) involved even more so as players (while) getting more usage and opportunities. What Joe’s done is figure out a way to play that maximizes the personality that they have. And I think ultimately that’s fundamentally, when I look at them and watch them play, why I would say that he’s done such a terrific job.”

Atlanta Hawks head coach Quinn Snyder keeps an eye on his team against the Miami Heat in the first half at Kaseya Center. Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

(Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

Snyder deserves a shout himself, given the season he’s had with Atlanta.

The Hawks are 43-33 and are sixth in the Eastern Conference.

He also became just the 41st coach in NBA history to reach 500 wins, hitting the milestone with a 123-113 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night.

“It was special,” Snyder said after the game. “When you’ve been in this league for a while, you realize that coaches, they keep your record, but it’s really the players and the other people that allow for that to happen.

“I’ve been really lucky to be able to coach some not just really good players, but just really quality people.”

Atlanta has won 16 of its last 18 games.

This story was originally published by Lindys Sports on Mar 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Lindys Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Celtics HC Joe Mazulla Calls Coach of the Year Award “Stupid”

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