Joe Mazzulla has expected response when asked about Celtics tanking this year

"The Boston Celtics have bounced back after an 0-3 start to the 2025-26 season with two consecutive wins, including a blowout victory over one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference in the Cavaliers on Wednesday night. But Boston's early slide - coupled with the uncertainty regarding Jayson Tatum 's return this season from a ruptured Achilles tendon - spurred discourse earlier this week about whether or not the best move for Boston this season is to embrace a down year in search of a top-five draft pick."

"'Celtics fall to 0-3. Perfect scenario for Brad Stevens & Co. with an incredible crop at the top of the draft,' basketball writer Jeff Goodman posted on X earlier this week. 'Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Nate Ament, Mikel Brown Jr, etc. Worst thing would be to make play-in and be picking in the mid to late teens [in the 2026 NBA Draft]."

""Quite honestly, I don't pay attention to it," Mazzulla said. "I think at the end of the day, you have a responsibility to the players, especially here in Boston. We have a responsibility to the players, to the city, to the organization to stick to the process of winning and go out there." Zolak followed up by asking Mazzulla if he'd be offended by even getting asked about the prospect of tanking in a season where Boston still has established talent like Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard on the roster. "I would be very offended," Mazzulla said."

The Boston Celtics recovered from an 0-3 start with two straight victories, including a blowout of the Cavaliers. Early losses and uncertainty about Jayson Tatum 's return from a ruptured Achilles fueled talk about intentionally losing to secure a top draft pick. A prominent writer suggested that tanking could yield blue-chip 2026 prospects such as Dybantsa or Cameron Boozer. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla rejected the notion, saying he does not pay attention to tanking talk and emphasizing a duty to players, the city, and the organization to stick to the process and compete.

Read at Boston.com