Boston Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzulla Showing Special Quality in 2026-27

On Monday, it was reported by Noa Dalzell of CLNS Celtics that Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has been giving veteran point guard Mike Conley an outsized role in helping lead the Celtics, who are currently 8-2 and tied for the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Mazzulla has allowed Conley to coach players on the floor and at practice, and he also had Conley lead a recent film session. Mazzulla has cited Conley's career, which now spans 20 seasons, saying that everyone can learn from him, including himself.

And while the story itself was rightly about the trust in Conley, to me, the story is also about Mazzulla, who is exercising something that a lot of people talk about but not everyone in pro sports has Humility.

I think it's human nature when you've reached the top of a profession like Mazzulla has to assume that you have all the answers. And when you assume that you have all the answers, it's not easy to give up control to others. 

People always talk about "delegating work," or "trusting in their staffs," and while some of them talk about it, they can't always do it. For Mazzulla to empower those around him, especially a veteran player, he's showing the ability to let go of some of his control, and that's not always easy to do.

And also, coaches like to coach. But much of their job centers around things have nothing to do with coaching at all: Talking to the media chief among them. Film sessions are where a lot of coaches thrive, so to give up that time and to empower others does feel abnormal to me.

The Celtics played four preseason games and Mazzulla gave up head coaching duties in two of them.

He allowed two assistants to split the first game of the preseason, and he allowed veteran assistant Sam Cassell to coach the last game of the preseason.

Mazzulla talks about rewarding those around him with opportunities, and then he actually goes out and does it. Again, giving up control is not easy, especially in such a high stakes position. It's rather impressive, frankly. Mazzulla is not afraid to let those around him take the wheel, and he's willing to admit when others can help him learn and get better also.

The C's will be back in action on Tuesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers, who are also 8-2. It will be the first matchup for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown since Brown was traded this past summer.