Is Joe Mazzulla the youngest coach to win NBA Finals? Exploring Boston Celtics head coach's place in history
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla accomplished his goal set at the start of the 2023-24 NBA season. After making Boston the best regular season team, Mazzulla's icing on the cake moment came on Monday when his team lifted the Larry O'Brien Trophy. The Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 in Game 5 to win the series 4-1 and clinch their 18th NBA championship.
At the age of 35, the former Fairmont State coach became the youngest NBA coach to win the championship since the legendary Bill Russell in 1969.
The Celtics enjoyed a historic run in the 2024 postseason under Mazzulla's tutelage as Boston lost just three games en route to winning the title. In just his second year as head coach, the Celtics finished with a 16-3 record in the 2024 playoffs after finishing the regular season with a 64-18 record.
"It’s a blessing. It’s a blessing. I don’t deserve it, but because of grace I’m here," Mazzulla said during the presentation ceremony.
"Right now, God’s put us in control of this responsibility, this ownership, this organization. It’s our job to move it along as best we can. And I’m just really grateful for everyone that helped us get here," he added.
Notably, Mazzulla doesn't hold the record for the youngest coach to ever win an NBA title despite winning the championship at a fairly young age. In fact, Mazzulla is joint-fourth on the overall list.
List of youngest coaches to win NBA Finals
#1. John Kundla
John Kundla led the Minneapolis Lakers to the promised land in 1950. Kundla won the championship as a head coach when he was just 32 years old.
#2. George Senesky
George Senesky orchestrated an NBA championship for the Philadelphia Warriors in 1956. At the time, Senesky was just 34 years old.
#2. Bill Russell
Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics to an NBA title triumph as a player-coach in 1969. Russell was also 34 years old at the time.
#4. Alex Hannum
Alex Hannum was the head coach of the title-winning team St. Louis Hawks in 1958. Hannum was 35 years old when he won the title.
#4. Joe Mazzulla
The current Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla joined the elite list on Monday after winning the title at age 35.
#6. Pat Riley
The Los Angeles Lakers won the 1982 NBA championships under the guidance of head coach Pat Riley, who was 37 years old at the time.