Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Celtics' latest move doubles down on continuity

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Aug 9, 2025 2:18 PM ET

This time last summer, the buzzword around the Boston Celtics was continuity. Brad Stevens had moved quickly to sign multiple members of the 2024 championship-winning roster to contract extensions. The hope was that with the core members of the rotation locked down for the foreseeable future, the franchise could push forward with building a dynasty.

However, Jayson Tatum' torn Achilles and a potential $500 million payroll quickly scuppered that thought process. This summer has been spent wheeling and dealing to get under the second luxury-tax apron.

Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet and Kristaps Porzingis have all left the franchise. Al Horford will likely follow them, but he's yet to make an official decision on his future, having hit unrestricted free agency at the start of the offseason.

Still, despite all the departures, it would appear Stevens is still focusing on roster continuity where possible, as the Celtics announced they signed Joe Mazzulla to a multiyear contract extension.

We have signed Joe Mazzulla to a multi-year contract extension ☘️ pic.twitter.com/V82bnnSXte
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 8, 2025

When it comes to a basketball team, you can't get better continuity than having a long-term head coach. Since taking the reins in 2022, Mazzulla has instilled a distinct brand of basketball and helped build a culture within the locker room. He's led the team to a 182-64 regular-season record over his first three seasons, with a 33-17 record in the postseason.

The Celtics may be in a retooling phase, but it's clear that, where possible, Stevens wants a connection to the team that won a championship just over a year ago. A core of Derrick White, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum is more than enough to build another successful iteration of the roster around. Having Mazzulla locked in and leading the way is the ideal scenario.

While the 2025-26 campaign is expected to be a disappointing one for the Celtics, the future still looks bright, and that is in large part to the team's commitment to continuity from the top down. That's what makes a successful organization, and it's what will help lead the franchise back to the mountain top in the coming years.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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