When the Boston Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead to the Philadelphia 76ers in the playoffs, many fans started questioning whether head coach Joe Mazzulla was the right man for the job. But if you ask the players around the NBA, the answer is a resounding yes.

In a recent player survey conducted by The Athletic, 146 players were asked which current coach—other than their own—they found most impressive. Mazzulla came out on top with 17.8% of the votes, more than any other head coach in the league.

That kind of respect doesn't come easy. Mazzulla, now in his fourth season as head coach, has built a reputation as an ultra-competitive, no-nonsense leader. And he's done it under some serious pressure.

Coming into the season, expectations were low. Star forward Jayson Tatum was expected to miss the entire 2025-26 campaign after suffering an Achilles injury during the playoffs. On top of that, the Celtics had traded away floor-spacing big man Kristaps Porziņģis. NBA.com's annual GM Survey even had league executives predicting Boston would finish eighth in the Eastern Conference.

Instead, Mazzulla's Celtics defied all odds. They finished second in the East with a 56-26 record, ranked second in offense, and fourth in defense. That kind of turnaround doesn't happen by accident—it takes a coach who can rally his team and get the best out of every player on the roster.

Of course, the survey was conducted before the playoffs, so some opinions might shift after Boston's early exit. But for now, the message from the players is clear: Joe Mazzulla's coaching style earns top marks across the league.