Joe Mazzulla wins NBA Coach of the Year after calling the award 'stupid' just months earlier

Boston Celtics caput coach Joe Mazzulla called nan Coach of nan Year grant "stupid."

Now, he’s won it.

"I don’t request it. I deliberation it’s a stupid award," Mazzulla said backmost successful March aft being asked astir nan anticipation of winning it owed to nan Celtics’ regular-season occurrence without immoderate of its stars, including Jayson Tatum, for astir of nan year.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Head coach Joe Mazzulla of nan Boston Celtics watches during nan 2nd 4th of Game Five successful nan first information of nan NBA Eastern Conference Playoff against nan Philadelphia 76ers astatine TD Garden successful Boston, Mass., connected April 28, 2026. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The award’s victor was announced connected Tuesday night, arsenic Mazzulla helped lead nan Celtics to nan No. 2 seed successful nan Eastern Conference pinch a 56-26 record, finishing 4 games down nan top-seeded Detroit Pistons.

But Mazzulla wasn’t conscionable calling nan grant stupid for nan liking of it – he believed it should beryllium a "coaching unit of nan year" grant alternatively than 1 personification getting hardware.

CELTICS COACH JOE MAZZULLA QUIPS THAT HE WISHED REF A 'MERRY CHRISTMAS' IN IRATE POSTGAME OUTBURST

Mazzulla, discussing nan grant connected Tuesday night, told NBC arsenic much.

"The agelong nights, nan trips, crippled plans, nan video guys that are clipping up nan movie and coding it, nan assistants who are putting successful nan crippled plan, I deliberation there’s truthful overmuch that goes into winning 1 game," Mazzulla explained. "It starts pinch nan players, but it goes to our staff. I consciousness bad that they’re not present — but everlastingly indebted to nan guys that we person that springiness up clip pinch their families and their clip to springiness america a chance to triumph each day."

Mazzulla is nan 4th Celtics coach to triumph nan award, which is named aft nan legendary Red Auerbach, who won it successful 1965. Tom Heinsohn (1973) and Bill Fitch (1980) person besides received nan Red Auerbach Trophy successful their careers.

Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla calls to players during nan first half of Game 1 of nan NBA Finals against nan Dallas Mavericks successful Boston connected June 6, 2024. (Charles Krupa/AP)

Auerbach helped lead nan Celtics to 9 NBA titles, including 8 successful a statement from 1959-66, during his Hall of Fame career.

Mazzulla was capable to seizure that glory successful 2024, arsenic nan Celtics defeated nan Dallas Mavericks, 4-1, to notch yet different Larry O’Brien Trophy for Boston’s mantle.

Unfortunately for nan Celtics, they were incapable to make it acold successful these playoffs contempt their stars getting patient precocious successful nan season. They were shockingly bounced successful nan first information aft losing Game 7 to nan Philadelphia 76ers.

But Mazzulla, 37, is now nan youngest caput coach to person nan Coach of nan Year grant since nan legendary Phil Jackson won it successful 1975, per nan NBA.

While Mazzulla wanted to constituent astatine his staff, Celtics president of hoops operations, Brad Stevens, praised his fourth-year caput coach.

Boston Celtics caput coach Joe Mazzulla watches nan crippled during nan 3rd 4th against nan Indiana Pacers astatine Gainbridge Fieldhouse successful Indianapolis, Ind., connected Jan. 12, 2026. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"This is good deserved nickname and a testament to some Joe and his staff," Stevens said. "With each of our unknowns entering nan season, Joe did a awesome occupation building and increasing a team. He pours everything he has into competing astatine a precocious level, while helping players find nan champion versions of themselves wrong nan model of a team."

Pistons caput coach J.B. Bickerstaff vanished successful 2nd place, which is nan aforesaid spot he recovered himself successful aft past season, and San Antonio Spurs leader Mitch Johnson vanished successful 3rd place.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.