A strong sense of confidence has been oozing through the Auerbach Center throughout the preseason in training camp.
Why wouldn’t there be? The team that finished the regular season with a 64-18 record, went 16-3 in the playoffs, outscored opponents by a total of 1,083 points across 101 games, and lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy on a confetti-covered TD Garden parquet in June is bringing back 15 of the 17 players from their championship run—including the top nine in minutes played last season.
This is a different kind of confidence, though. It’s not a “we’re the reigning champions until someone else wins it” type of confidence, because that was last year’s team. And despite bringing back essentially the same roster, the 2024-25 Celtics haven’t proven they’re a great team yet.
It’s a total reset for the Celtics, a clean slate. Last year is last year, and it means nothing in the present, and the Celtics are approaching the season as such.
That mindset starts with their head coach, Joe Mazzulla. The man who says he feels he feels no pressure because, well, we’re all going to die soon.
It’s unique and, sometimes, downright crazy, but it’s what helped bring home Banner 18 last season and why many are picking them to do it again. The Celtics are locked in, motivated, and hungry. While outside factors (thanks, Team USA) certainly played a role, that mindset and determination start with their head coach.
“Joe just connects with you,” Celtics’ owner Wyc Grousbeck told The Greg Hill Show on WEEI. “He is about you. He’s about I love you, I want you to be your best, and I’ll do anything I can to achieve that. He’s got this magnetism to him, and it’s completely authentic. That’s probably a different style than some of the other coaches out there. It’s probably not the Red Auerbach style of coaching or Vince Lombardi – It’s Joe. It’s unique, and it really has connected with our guys. They would do anything for Joe.”
It takes a special leader to shift the culture of a prestigious franchise like the Celtics. That kind of impact comes from earning the trust and respect of the locker room through genuine relationships and getting them to fully buy into your philosophy and message—something Mazzulla has truly excelled at.
“He took these guys and turned them into a Navy Seals team,” Grousbeck added. “Joe has that mentality, and we try to have that mentality, and that’s part of the secret sauce that got us Banner 18.”
The success is nothing short of remarkable. Mazzulla has posted a 121-43 regular-season record, a 27-12 postseason record, and won a championship in just two seasons as head coach. His .738 regular-season win percentage is the highest in NBA history. Additionally, his squads have finished in the top two for both offensive and defensive ratings in each of the last two seasons.
“He’s just getting started,” said Grousbeck. “I personally think he’s one of the very best coaches -- or the best -- that I’ve ever met.”
As the Celtics embark on their quest for back-to-back championships, they have the perfect leader in place—someone who will keep them honest mentally and put them in a position to win with his unorthodox approach.
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