Joe Mazzulla walked into a room with Ariel Helwani and pretty much led with this: he had to apologize to Mitchell Robinson. Not for a bad foul or a hard screen. For Hack-a-Robinson. The whole strategy, repeatedly deployed during playoff matchups, was something Mazzulla felt he needed to clear the air about after the Celtics signed the big man this offseason.
“I had to apologize to him for Hack-a-Robinson, but he took it well,” Mazzulla said with a laugh during the interview. The clip made the rounds quickly. Robinson, for his part, is apparently a forgiving guy. Or at least, he understands that coaches do what works.
A history that goes beyond free throws
Mazzulla also brought up a moment from a postseason game where Robinson, in the heat of closing out on Jaylen Brown, ended up breaking one of Boston’s team iPads. It’s a small thing, but it tells you about the kind of physical presence Robinson brings. The kind of guy who accidentally destroys hardware just by competing.
Now Mazzulla doesn’t have to scheme around Robinson’s offensive rebounding or rim protection. He gets to use them. Robinson comes over after helping the Knicks win the 2026 NBA title. That’s a proven winner walking into a Celtics frontcourt that needed more interior muscle. Boston’s defensive identity already had teeth. Robinson adds the kind of physicality that makes life miserable for opposing bigs. And offensively, he gives Mazzulla a reliable option around the basket, someone who can clean up misses and finish through contact.
The coach behind the move
Mazzulla’s own story is worth noting here. He started as a Celtics assistant in 2019, took over as interim head coach in 2022, and got the full-time job before anyone could blink. He led Boston to a championship in 2024, becoming the youngest coach to do it since 1970. Then he won Coach of the Year in 2026, guiding the team through a season that included Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury. Through it all, Mazzulla’s record sits at 274-111 in combined regular-season and playoff games. That’s the highest winning percentage for any coach with 200 or more career games. Not a bad run for a guy who once had to apologize for intentionally fouling someone.
Robinson is the latest piece. The Celtics are trying to get back to the top of the Eastern Conference after watching the Knicks take the crown. Adding a guy who just beat you on the biggest stage — and who you once hacked on purpose — is a funny kind of full circle. Mazzulla handled it the right way. He apologized, they laughed about it, and now they go to work.
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