Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla is named NBA Coach of the Year for the 2025-26 season, after previously dismissing the award as “stupid.” Multiple outlets report that in March, when asked about the possibility of winning Coach of the Year, Mazzulla said, “I don’t need it,” adding that he thought it was a “stupid award.” On Tuesday, he receives the league’s top coaching recognition. Fox News reports that after winning, Mazzulla credits his staff rather than individual achievement for the honor. The Athletic (NYT) adds historical context, saying he is the first Celtics coach to win Coach of the Year since Bill Fitch in 1980. An additional report from Inquirer.net similarly highlights both the March comments and the Tuesday announcement, framing the award’s outcome as a contrast to his earlier characterization. Across coverage, the central points remain consistent: Mazzulla wins Coach of the Year, and his earlier “stupid” remark is widely cited as part of the narrative around the award.