Joe Mazzulla’s contract extension not only thrilled Boston Celtics fans-it also earned praise from former players and analysts, many of whom see a bright future for the franchise under his leadership, even with Jayson Tatum sidelined for the season.
On August 8, Boston announced that Mazzulla had signed a multi-year extension. While the terms remain undisclosed, the move was widely celebrated by fans and media alike. After guiding the Celtics to two Finals appearances in three years and delivering their first championship in 16 seasons in 2024, Mazzulla has quickly become one of the league’s most respected young coaches.
Mazzulla first took over during the 2022-23 season, replacing Ime Udoka after his dismissal amid scandal. The decision to stick with him has paid off, and now, with the public backing of franchise legend Paul Pierce, Boston’s confidence in its head coach seems stronger than ever.
Pierce is a big fan of Mazzulla
On Julian Edelman’s Games With Names podcast, Pierce-an NBA champion with the 2008 Celtics-made his admiration for Mazzulla clear. “I love Mazzulla, dude. He fits the kind of Boston mentality,” Pierce said.
He went on to praise the coach’s connection with the roster: “I like that he’s young; he can relate to the players. I like his mentality. I like all of his press conferences. He’s kind of a no-nonsense type of coach, but the players love him. Yeah, he’s a great fit.”
With Jayson Tatum sidelined and expectations sky-high, Mazzulla’s leadership will be tested like never before. If he can rally Boston through adversity, this extension may prove to be just the start of a championship run.
A trial by fire ahead
The true test of Mazzulla’s coaching will come this season. The Celtics are without Tatum, who is out for the year with an Achilles injury, while new additions Chris Boucher and rookie guard R.J. Louis Jr. will shake up both the rotation and the locker room dynamic.
Even so, Pierce and several analysts believe Mazzulla has the ability to reorganize the team and push them back to the Finals after this year’s disappointing playoff exit at the hands of the New York Knicks in the conference semifinals.
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