The Boston Celtics have signaled their confidence in Joe Mazzulla despite blowing a 3-1 lead in the first round of the playoffs. The NBA's reigning Coach of the Year has made a name for himself not just because of the Celtics' success under him, but also for their player development.
A recurring theme from 2022 to 2026, i.e., when Joe Mazzulla took over, is that the Celtics have gotten contributions from unexpected players and/or players who evolved into more than anyone could have hoped, which has worked in Boston's favor.
Eight players in particular have stood out during the Mazzulla era. We are also excluding draft picks that came in during the Mazzulla era - Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez - because Boston drafted them believing they would contribute, and they have clearly rewarded their faith in them.
8. Blake Griffin
We're going to start with what is most definitely the most unorthodox choice, as Griffin was once a superstar. However, Boston brought him in after training camp had already started, signifying that the league thought Griffin was cooked.
It wasn't immediate, but Griffin made his own unique impact for Boston. While not an everyday player, Griffin proved himself a worthy stand-in as a starter when Al Horford and/or Robert Williams III had to take the night off.
His generational hops were gone, but Griffin's IQ and hustle set the tone once he got his legs underneath him. For someone whom the Celtics targeted every minute he played against them with the Brooklyn Nets, Griffin turned himself into an asset for Boston when expectations were quite low, and in an entertaining way, too.
7. Ron Harper Jr.
Before joining the Celtics, Harper was an NBA journeyman, known for little beyond his family roots. After bouncing around with short stints for multiple teams, Harper went from a training camp invite to the Celtics' primary defender on Kevin Durant.
Harper's athleticism and two-way play earned him a full-time spot on the team. The Celtics basically took someone who no one in the NBA batted an eye at and turned him into someone they clearly believe in for the foreseeable future.
There's a solid chance Harper will be higher on this list as he continues his development over the next four years. He's not higher primarily because of sample size. Don't be surprised if his ranking ages like milk. I certainly won't be.
6. Luka Garza
In an offseason in which the Celtics lost the majority of their frontcourt depth, Celtics fans weren't exactly happy to know that Garza was one of their best replacements. Like Griffin three seasons prior, Garza didn't exactly hit the ground running, but once he proved himself a fit for Mazzulla Ball, he immediately became a fan favorite.
A rim protector he was not, and Boston never threw him at the opposition's toughest player, but they had the defensive personnel to mask his shortcomings. Plus, his presence on the boards and ability to space the floor made him a serviceable back-up five when no one thought as much ahead of time.
Kornet's individual story in Boston was actually pretty cool, knowing where it started and where it ended. He indeed got his first taste of Celtics basketball playing under Brad Stevens and Ime Udoka, albeit briefly. Mazzulla was the one who helped him spread his wings. So much so that he invented the term "Kornet Kontest."
5. Luke Kornet
Kornet's story is original for a franchise with such a rich history. He was a throw-in at the 2021 trade deadline, then came back to Boston on a G-League deal, then got himself a full-time deal, where he helped pioneer the "Stay Ready" group, won himself a championship, bet on himself, then finally became a Celtics playoff hero, all before he got a nice payday with San Antonio.
It's not just that, though. Kornet came to Boston known as a stretch big, but Mazzulla went the other way with him, believing Kornet was better off down low than on the perimeter. As it turns out, some guys who are tall and athletic are best at utilizing that instead of shooting threes.
Kornet's individual story in Boston was actually pretty cool, knowing where it started and where it ended. It's true he got his first taste of Celtics basketball playing under Brad Stevens and Ime Udoka, albeit briefly. Mazzulla was the one who helped him spread his wings. So much so that he invented the term "Kornet Kontest."
4. Neemias Queta
Queta gets the edge over Kornet here because he had more responsibility with Boston last year than Kornet ever did. It is wild to think that Queta was also picked up off the scrap heap only because Sacramento wanted JaVale McGee for... reasons.
Anyway, Queta was also part of the "Stay Ready" group until Boston gradually increased his role. There were definitely more growing pains with Queta than there were with Kornet, but that was mostly because the former was forced to grow up faster. Mazzulla Ball gets results, but not always right away.
Queta went from a nice luxury to have on a title team to the Celtics' starting center for the foreseeable future. It's likely to get better for him, too, as his ascension took place mostly without Jayson Tatum, and now he'll get to play alongside him with a clean bill of health.
3. Sam Hauser
It may not be long before Queta proves himself to be the more valuable asset than Hauser, but Hauser gave Boston something they haven't had in quite some time: an undrafted free agent turned rotation player. No one knew what to expect when Hauser was designated as Danilo Gallinari's injury replacement in 2022, but four years later, he's proven himself and then some.
It was nice enough for the Celtics to finally have a 3-point marksman who provided solid defense, after years of defensive specialists they hoped would develop a three-ball, but never did. Hauser has lived up to his billing as an elite floor-spacer to the point where he's made Celtics history from distance on multiple occasions.
Now, it's true that Hauser is more of a specialist than he is a starter, which was proven last season, but no one's complaining about what Boston is paying him to do because he's elite at it. People say Mazzulla Ball is all about threes. While that's not entirely true, Hauser's presence justifies why Boston takes so many.
2. Payton Pritchard
You want to talk about arcs on the Celtics? Look no further than Pritchard, who went from being part of the "Stay Ready" group (which made him want out at one point) to being the starter for most of last year's resilient team. Now, he has the chance to put up the best numbers of his career after the Jaylen Brown trade.
Pritchard's mindset gave him the patience to wait his turn, and now he's actually turned himself into one of the league's better small guards, as his craftiness and sharpshooting not only allow him to score from anywhere, but being small in a way helps him as opponents underestimate him.
Pritchard is expected to pick up much of the scoring slack with Brown gone. With each passing season, Boston has counted on him more and more. This is his biggest test yet, but because he has risen to the challenge every time with Mazzulla Ball, there's no reason to think he can't do it again.
1. Derrick White
Before White's first season in Boston, the defense was never in question. He proved from the jump that he was an elite defender. The problem was both White's confidence and his 3-point shot. All it took was one full season to prove under Mazzulla just how good he was as a two-way player.
It's not like White was a nobody when he joined the Celtics, but it was clear he was miscast in San Antonio and needed a minute in Boston. But once he got comfortable, he was so good that many wondered why he wasn't playing in closing lineups.
White improving his jumper is one thing, but Mazzulla being able to weaponize on him on both ends of the floor has made him the best development story to come from Mazzulla Ball. While all these other players have definitely benefited from the Celtics' coach's tutelage, the only one who has gotten legitimate All-Star consideration has been White, and for good reason.
For that reason, White gets the No. 1 spot on this list. For now, at least.
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