Joe Mazzulla spent time with Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson this summer, and Jordan shared the mindset that helped him sustain his success, according to Brian Scalabrine on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
“Jordan told Joe, ‘the reason why I kept winning is because I acted like I never won,’” Scalabrine said.
The message comes at an important point in Mazzulla’s tenure with the Boston Celtics. After winning the NBA championship in 2024, Boston finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 56-26 record, good for second place in the Eastern Conference, but was eliminated in the first round.
The Celtics then underwent a major roster change this summer, most notably trading Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Brown had spent 10 seasons in Boston and established himself as one of the franchise’s central players. He averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 71 games during the 2025-26 season while shooting 47.7% from the field and 34.7% from three-point range.
His departure leaves Jayson Tatum as the centerpiece of the Celtics. Tatum appeared in only 16 games last season while averaging 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists before his Achilles injury ended his campaign.
Boston also brought in Paul George as part of the Brown trade and added Mitchell Robinson, Mike Conley and Chris Cenac Jr. during the offseason. Neemias Queta received a four-year, $56 million extension after starting 75 games last season and averaging 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks.
The Celtics are therefore entering another phase under Mazzulla, with a different roster and questions surrounding how quickly the new group can develop.
Jordan’s message to Mazzulla reflects an approach centered on avoiding complacency after achieving success. Rather than treating a championship as a destination, the six-time NBA champion emphasized behaving as though nothing had already been accomplished.
Mazzulla has already established himself as an NBA champion coach, but the Celtics’ offseason changes mean he will have to guide a substantially different group into the next season.
