Mitchell Robinson is already catching major heat from Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, even as the new center is only just getting acquainted with his second NBA franchise in nearly a decade. But this isn’t some rookie getting rattled, nope, Robinson is embracing every single one of those earfuls, and it’s clearly fueling his game already. The reigning NBA Coach of the Year might be tough, but his hard coaching looks like pure gold for Boston.
Mazzulla’s ‘No Holds Barred’ Coaching Ignites Robinson’s Game
It’s no secret Mazzulla coaches his players hard, especially his big men, and Robinson is no exception despite being a first-year Celtic. The coach even hit up Robinson at his Nashville house this summer to get acquainted, so the relationship is already deep. “He’s getting on my (expletive) a lot,” Robinson said in the locker room, a slight smirk giving away how he really feels about it. But for Robinson, it’s all about growth: “just learning from him, the way that he takes everything in and gives us all the information literally down to a tee. Those are things that can help us be successful.”
And successful he was! This tough love had Robinson looking like one of the best players on the floor during Wednesday night’s 114-93 preseason smash-up against the Charlotte Hornets. Our man, the 7-footer, dropped a game-high 3 blocks, which is wild when you consider the entire Hornets team only managed 2 blocks. He also racked up 12 points and 7 rebounds. Beyond the stats, he was making plays, swatting inbounds passes and setting brutal screens to spring his teammates open. But even after that kind of performance, Mazzulla is a perfectionist. Robinson still faced critiques, listing them out: “Not sprinting, not setting good screens, letting the guy go under. There’s a lot of (expletive) that he tells me.” Lucky for Boston, Robinson isn’t bothered. He previously played for Tom Thibodeau, another notoriously tough coach, so he’s built for this. “I don’t take no hard feelings to it,” Robinson stated. “I embrace it and make adjustments.” That’s the mindset you want from a 2026 NBA champion.
Cracking the Code of Boston’s Complicated Offense
Joining the Celtics has been a major adjustment for Robinson. This isn’t just any team, and Boston’s system is next-level complicated. For a guy who had only ever suited up for the rival Knicks, this is a whole new ballgame. Robinson acknowledged the challenge after the win against Charlotte, talking about how many actions demand extreme attention to detail. “It really is just screening, as long as I get my angles right,” Robinson explained. “And what guys like to do, what Payton (Pritchard) likes to do, what Sam (Hauser), (Jayson Tatum), all those guys , once I learn really what they like to do, I think I’ll be alright.” It sounds like he’s putting in the work to master the nuances and become a seamless fit in a championship-level offense.
The Celtics have one last preseason game left, a road trip south to face the rival Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. There’s no guarantee Robinson will even play, but frankly, he’s already made a statement. His promising debut shows he’s ready to be a major contributor, bringing his defensive intensity and growing offensive awareness to the Green Team on both ends of the floor. This season is gonna be something else, and Robinson’s tough love journey is just getting started.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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