BOSTON — Center Mitchell Robinson is still getting acquainted with the Boston Celtics. They're just the second franchise he's been with over the course of his almost decade-long NBA career. However, this novelty doesn't mean he's safe from the wrath of Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.
The first-year Celtic has enjoyed getting to know his new skipper, and Mazzulla even visited him at his house this summer in Nashville, Tennessee. Mazzulla is known for coaching his players hard — especially his big men — so it's not a shock that Robinson has already heard an earful from the reigning NBA Coach of the Year during training camp and preseason.
Mitchell Robinson says he appreciates Joe Mazzulla’s hard coaching: “He gets on my ass…I don't take no hard feelings
to it. I embrace it and make adjustments.” pic.twitter.com/wWycQnAhlb
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) October 15, 2026
"He's getting on my (expletive) a lot," Robinson said in the locker room with a slight smirk. "But, 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."
This tough love must be working in some fashion, as Robinson looked like one of the best players on the floor during the Celtics' 114-93 preseason win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night. The 7-footer finished with a game-high 3 blocks (the Hornets only recorded 2 blocks as a team) to go along with 12 points and 7 rebounds. He did the things that don't show up on the stat sheet, too, swatting inbounds passes and setting hard screens to get his teammates open.
But Mazzulla is a perfectionist, so Robinson has still been critiqued despite a strong start to his Boston tenure.
"Not sprinting, not setting good screens, letting the guy go under," Robinson listed when asked what Mazzulla yells at him for. "There's a lot of (expletive) that he tells me."
Robinson used to work under former New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, who has a reputation across the league for being an insightful yet tough coach. Perhaps this prepared Robinson for Mazzulla's demanding coaching, because he seems unbothered by it so far.
"I don't take no hard feelings to it," he stated. "I embrace it and make adjustments."
Joining the Celtics this past offseason has been a significant adjustment for Robinson. Boston's system can be complicated and the 28-year-old had only ever played for the rival Knicks prior to this year.
Following Boston's home win versus Charlotte, Robinson referenced this challenge and the fact that he's in a lot of actions that require attention to detail.
"It really is just screening, as long as I get my angles right," Robinson said of getting accustomed to the Celtics' busy offense. "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."
Robinson could have one last learning opportunity before the regular season starts. As part of their preseason finale, the Celtics will head south to face the rival Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. There's no guarantee Robinson will suit up then, though.
Even if he doesn't, the 2026 NBA champion has made a promising Celtics debut and appears ready to be a major contributor for the Green Team on both ends of the floor.
Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:
Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp
iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47
YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Why Mitchell Robinson appreciates hard coaching from Joe Mazzulla
