This past June, the Boston Celtics celebrated their 18th NBA title. They aim to be the first team to win back-to-back championships since the Golden State Warriors did it in 2017-18.

However, head coach Joe Mazzulla had a rather unique – and somewhat pessimistic – take on the pressure his squad is experiencing.

“There is none,” Mazzulla stated to reporters on Monday. “No pressure at all. We’re all going to be dead soon, so in the grand scheme, it really doesn’t matter. There’s zero pressure. Winning or losing is part of it. When you win, you tend to forget about it after a week, and when you lose, you try to forget that too. So, it’s not pressure, but rather an opportunity.”

The Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in five games during the NBA Finals, marking their first championship since 2008. Although they might start the 2024-25 season without center Kristaps Porziņģis for a while, the team’s roster remains strong, featuring stars like Olympians Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White, along with NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.

The season kicks off on Tuesday, with the Celtics taking on the New York Knicks in the NBA’s opening game.

“We have a great chance ahead of us in the next few years,” continued Mazzulla. “As I’ve said before: we have a responsibility to carry the organization’s legacy forward and to embrace its rich history. What would you expect from us other than to aim for victory? I certainly wouldn’t want anyone to expect us to lose all the time; that would be completely demoralizing.”

Last season, the Celtics achieved a remarkable 64 victories, seven more than any other team, including the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets. During the 2024 NBA playoffs, they soared with a 16-3 record, never needing more than five games to win a series.

Entering his third season as the Celtics’ head coach, Mazzulla boasts a 121-43 record (.738). Last year, Boston led the league in offensive efficiency and ranked second in defensive efficiency. With all crucial players returning, the Celtics are favored once more to clinch the 2025 NBA Finals.

“We expect to win,” Mazzulla emphasized. “Our team exhibits outstanding character and talent, and we must work towards tapping into our full potential. We’ll count on our players to achieve that.”