Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has been named the NBA Coach of the Year for the 2023-24 season, the league announced on Tuesday. Mazzulla led the Celtics to a league-best 64-18 record, securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
In his second season at the helm, Mazzulla guided Boston to its first NBA championship since 2008, showcasing a dominant offensive system and a stifling defense. The team finished the regular season with the best net rating in the league.
Mazzulla received 77 first-place votes from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, finishing ahead of Oklahoma City Thunder's Mark Daigneault and Minnesota Timberwolves' Chris Finch.
The 35-year-old coach became the youngest to win the award since Tom Heinsohn in 1973. Mazzulla credited his players and staff, saying, "This award is a reflection of our entire organization's commitment to excellence."
The Celtics enter the postseason as heavy favorites to repeat as champions, with Mazzulla's leadership a key factor in their success.