Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla Doesn’t Hold Back on Players Needing to Stay Ready

Oct 10, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla gestures as he speaks with game officials in the second half against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has gotten honest about how he intends to manage his team's young bench players.

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As Mazzulla tinkers with his rotations to see what lineups mesh best together during something of a "gap year" season, he wants to ensure that his fringe rotation pieces stay ready to suit up, whether or not they're logging meaningful minutes, per Noa Dalzell of CelticsBlog.

I asked Joe Mazzulla about the training camp players having to stay ready and check in in the final minutes, completely cold:

“Whether it’s two minutes to go in the first quarter, second quarter, third quarter, fourth quarter — you're teaching the mindset of — you have to be… pic.twitter.com/Owxgu7PGm3

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) October 11, 2025

“Whether it’s two minutes to go in the first quarter, second quarter, third quarter, fourth quarter — you're teaching the mindset of — you have to be ready," Mazzulla said. "You should be able to execute regardless. That’s what you get paid to do, what you're already trying to do. So no sympathy there. First, second, third, fourth quarter doesn't matter."

Big minutes have already, clearly, been earmarked for four-time All-Star swingman Jaylen Brown, two-time All-Defensive Team guard Derrick White, reigning Sixth Man of the Year guard Payton Pritchard, and new trade acquisition Anfernee Simons. Sharpshooting forward Sam Hauser, former fourth-string center Neemias Queta, and new big man signing Chris Boucher seem likely to also enjoy serious rotation run, if the preseason numbers are any indication.

Mazzulla does also appear to be looking to play two other veteran's minimum free agent signings, forward Josh Minott and center Luka Garza, as part of his rotation.

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What about the Celtics' youth movement?

Will small forward Jordan Walsh, wing Baylor Scheierman, power forward Xavier Tillman (who's 26, so maybe he's not quite a part of the club's "youth movement"), or even a trio of rookies — first-round pick Hugo Gonzalez and two-way signings Amari Williams and Max Shulga — be able to make the grade?

They'll at least get their shot in the preseason to make a good impression on Mazzulla.

Deep-Bench Reserves Need to be 'Ready to Play'

"Whoever sits on the bench has got be ready to play," Mazzulla said. "If I put you in, it’s a level a trust that I have that I have in you that you can help us execute.”

Boston could be looking to explore a deep bench during something of an experimental season. All-NBA power forward Jayson Tatum will be on the shelf recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon for most, or perhaps all, of the season. The club understandably ditched a lot of pricey depth for what is doomed to be an also-ran year.

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