Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has guided his team through major offseason turnover and Jayson Tatum's Achilles hiatus to remain a top Eastern Conference contender.
This had led many basketball minds to believe that Mazzulla deserves serious consideration for NBA Coach of the Year honors.
Chandler Parsons is one of those minds. The former NBA wing made the COTY case for Mazzulla on FanDuel's Run It Back show this week. Parsons said that Jaylen Brown's MVP play deserves acclaim, as does Tatum's incredible return, but ultimately, Mazzulla has been pushing all the right buttons along the way.
.@ChandlerParsons makes a case for Joe Mazzulla to win Coach of the Year 🏆
"Jaylen Brown became the MVP-type player he's always been. Now Jayson Tatum is back...looks to be in rare form. ... Boston went from solid, to good, to a real contender."@MichelleDBeadle | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/etq53vcvTu
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) March 19, 2026
Mazzulla's ability to maximize available talent has been eye-opening in 2025-26. Despite lottery-type expectations entering the season, the Celtics have posted a strong record and look poised for a deep playoff run.
Parsons' endorsement aligns with growing league-wide chatter around Mazzulla, who has kept Boston competitive without relying on past championship depth. As the regular season winds down, the coach's strategic adjustments and player development could prove decisive in separating the Celtics from the pack and setting them up for Banner 19.
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