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H8597
2026 -- H 8597
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LC006542
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CONGRATULATING RHODE ISLAND NATIVE JOSEPH MAZZULLA, HEAD COACH OF
THE BOSTON CELTICS, ON BEING NAMED THE 2025-2026 NATIONAL BASKETBALL
ASSOCIATION COACH OF THE YEAR
Introduced By:
Representatives Fellela, Blazejewski, Kazarian, Place, Fascia, Hull, J.
Lombardi, Noret, Costantino, and Lima
Date Introduced:
May 28, 2026
Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, Since being named the Boston Celtics Head Coach on September 22, 2022,
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Coach Mazzulla has led the Celtics to 4 straight first-place finishes in the Atlantic Division, 4
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straight playoff berths, an NBA championship in 2024, and 2 other trips to the Eastern
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Conference Finals. Overall, the Celtics under his leadership have compiled an astounding .726
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winning percentage in the last 4 NBA regular seasons; and
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WHEREAS, Thanks to the sterling guidance and basketball acumen provided by Coach
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Mazzulla, forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have developed into NBA superstars and
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MVP contenders, and he has helped to develop guards Payton Pritchard and Derrick White into
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All-Star-caliber players; and
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WHEREAS, Entering the 2025-2026 season, expectations were low for the Celtics after
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Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles tear during the 2025 playoffs, an injury that also forced him to
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sit out nearly the entire first half of the current NBA season. Most people expected the Celtics to
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suffer through a difficult rebuilding season, but instead Coach Mazzulla led the Celtics to a
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sterling 56-26 record, the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, and the fourth best record
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in the NBA. The Celtics also once again won the Atlantic Division and advanced to the NBA
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Playoffs. For these reasons, Boston Celtics Head Coach Joseph Mazzulla was named the NBA
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2025-2026 Coach of the Year, the first Celtics Head Coach in 46 years to win this prestigious
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award; and
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WHEREAS, Born and raised in Johnston, Rhode Island, and a graduate of Bishop
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Hendricken High School, Coach Mazzulla has been a leader his entire life. From leading West
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Virginia to the NCAA Final Four, and the Celtics to an NBA Championship, Coach Mazzulla has
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developed into a great leader whom other people can count on. Coach Joe Mazzulla is also a
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family man and a man of great faith, who has made all Rhode Islanders proud to call him a native
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son; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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heartily and joyously congratulates Boston Celtics Head Coach Joseph Mazzulla on being named
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the 2025-2026 NBA Coach of the Year; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Boston Celtics Head Coach Joseph Mazzulla.
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LC006542
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