Joe Mazzulla’s pursuit of improvement doesn’t stop when the NBA offseason begins. As the Boston Celtics prepare for 2026-27, the reigning NBA Coach of the Year was recently spotted training at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.
He was working through pad drills and grappling sessions under coach Eric Nicksick. The following footage shows Mazzulla putting in the work.
Mazzulla has trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA for nearly five years, often stopping at local gyms during Celtics road trips. He’s credited combat sports with shaping his coaching philosophy, drawing parallels between a fighter’s discipline and composure and the demands of leading an NBA team.