Overview
- The NBA announced Tuesday that Mazzulla won the Red Auerbach Trophy after receiving 62 of 100 first-place votes from a global media panel.
- Mazzulla led the Celtics to a 56-26 regular-season record and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference despite Jayson Tatum missing most of the year and several veteran departures.
- Mazzulla reiterated that the honor belongs to his coaches and players, repeating a season-long stance that the prize should recognize an entire staff rather than a single person.
- The award reflects regular-season performance only and comes after Boston’s season ended with a first-round loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games, a contrast widely noted by commentators.
- Mazzulla, 37, is the fourth Celtics coach to win the award, the first since 1980, and his vote-aided recognition raises fresh questions about playoff adjustments and expectations heading into 2026-27.