Joe Mazzulla Named Coach of the Year Finalist
The NBA has officially announced three finalists for all major awards, and while no Celtic player will be taking home individual regular-season honors this season, one important member of the team is likely to come away with a trophy. Joe Mazzulla, the fourth-year head coach of the Boston Celtics, has been named a finalist for the Coach of the Year award. Alongside him are San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson and Detroit Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff.
Despite his strong chances of winning, Mazzulla seems unlikely to celebrate the victory. In a recent interview, he expressed his views on the award, stating, “I don’t need it. I think it’s a stupid award. They shouldn’t have it. And it’s more about the players. It’s more about the work that the staff puts in. It’s just that simple. I really don’t ever want to be asked or talk about it again. It’s just that dumb. So, the players play. It’s about them. Staff works their ass off. I’m grateful to have them.”
Jaylen Brown Misses MVP Finalists
While Mazzulla’s name is in the mix for coaching honors, Jaylen Brown did not make the list of three MVP finalists. The finalists for the prestigious award are Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, Victor Wembenyama of the San Antonio Spurs, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Each of these players has a compelling case for the honor.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points on 55% shooting and 6.6 assists per game.
- Nikola Jokic averaged 27.7 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 9 assists per game.
- Victor Wembenyama averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game.
Despite having the best season of his career, Jaylen Brown was not named a finalist. He averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game this season.
Derrick White Excluded from Defensive Player of the Year Finalists
Derrick White also missed out on recognition as one of the three finalists for Defensive Player of the Year. The nominees are Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson, and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembenyama.
White had a standout season, averaging 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals per game—both career-highs. His performance has not gone unnoticed, as teammate Jaylen Brown has publicly supported White, stating that he had a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber season.
Neemias Queta Falls Short of Most Improved Player Finalists
Neemias Queta, who made a significant leap this season, was not named a finalist for the Most Improved Player award. The three finalists are Atlanta Hawks forward Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, and Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren.
Queta’s journey from a fourth-string center to a starting role on one of the league’s top teams was impressive. He improved significantly in several areas:
- From 5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 13.9 minutes per game in the 2024-25 season to 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks this season.
- His net rating ranked fifth in the NBA, and his defensive rating was among the top 10.
In a recent appearance on teammate Derrick White’s podcast “White Noise,” Queta shared his thoughts on the omission: “I think I made a pretty good case for it. And there’s always so much more I can get better at. I don’t get it this year, next year, it’s available again. That’s a good way to see it.”
