BOSTON — Boston Celtics legend Robert Parish knows what goes into winning. He celebrated three NBA championships in Beantown and was part of some of the best teams in franchise history. And while he had never met Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla before, he quickly recognized that the fourth-year skipper embodies winning.
“They have the right coach in place because that’s where it starts,” Parish said of Mazzulla prior to the Celtics’ Wednesday night meeting with the Golden State Warriors (two franchises that Parish was a key part of during his lengthy NBA career). “The team is definitely taking on Joe’s personality — that toughness, grind it out on both ends, take no prisoners.”
More from Robert Parish on Joe Mazzulla:
“They have the right coach in place. That’s where it starts with the coach, and the team is definitely taking on Joe’s personality. You know, that toughness, grinding out on both ends. Take no prisoners.” https://t.co/FVv8XNQesL
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) March 18, 2026
Parish even continued his high praise by saying that Mazzulla is leading a squad that reminded him of the great Celtics teams he was on four decades ago.
“Another area they mirror us in, they play hard,” he stated in the TD Garden press room while towering over reporters.
It’s safe to say that’s an accurate assessment from the “Chief,” as the Celtics are currently 45-23 overall and have won several games by simply working harder than their opponents, whether that came in crashing the boards harder or getting on the floor faster for a loose ball.
Mazzulla fostered this hardworking and winning culture from day 1 of the 2025-26 season, even when outsiders thought they’d fail while Celtics star Jayson Tatum recovered from an Achilles injury. He uplifted his bench players and reinvigorated his starters, emphasizing the importance of every member of the roster.
“I definitely think Joe has people skills,” Parish stated. “Because I think it’s very important to give those guys that don’t play a lot, give them some love, make them feel important, make them feel wanted, make them feel like they’re going to contribute at some point. So stay ready. It seemed like these guys realize — and it feels that Joe subscribed to this philosophy — don’t give me a reason not to play.”
When Mazzulla heard these kind words, he didn’t boast, which is typical for him.
“To me, it starts in the locker room, and it’s a credit to those guys,” Mazzulla said when asked about how he’s created a tough, hard-nosed Green Team.
These comments came just a few minutes after Parish shook Mazzulla’s hand for the first time.
“He’s serious,” Parish described. “And I like that.”
The Celtics will now look towards the playoffs, as they have a real shot at a deep run with Tatum back in the mix. But no matter who’s leading them, Parish knows they’ll work together and stress “we” over “me.”
“One thing I like about today’s Celtics, they win collectively,” Parish complimented. “It’s not one person doing the work. They’re winning and being successful collectively. They’re doing it as a team, and I respect that.”
As for Mazzulla, he’ll likely continue to shift any kudos he receives to his players while instructing them to respect the process of winning — and to never back down from a fight.
“He doesn’t take any crap, and these Celtics don’t take any crap,” Parish said of Mazzulla.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics legend Robert Parish praises Joe Mazzulla for building a tough team
