Barring events too unlikely to fathom, Brad Stevens will remain the Boston Celtics' coach for as long as he wants the gig. Just in case the former Coach of the Year eventually decides to move on from Boston, though, the Celtics have two favorites on the roster who they believe would be good replacements.

In a player survey conducted by The Athletic's Jay King, Boston picked Al Horford and Marcus Smart as the players on the team who would make the best coach. Both players received four votes from a 10-man panel that didn't include Kyrie Irving or Gordon Hayward.  Also receiving a vote were Irving, Hayward, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Morris, and Brad Wanamaker.

Horford, by the way, chose Smart because he believes the 25-year-old “just sees the game very clear.” Robert Williams also picked the notoriously fiery guard, admitting that though his “methods [as a coach] may not always be right, he'd definitely be the best coach out of all of us.”

Terry Rozier's justification for going with Smart, meanwhile, is a tidy combination of those of Horford and Williams.

Article Continues Below
More Boston Celtics News
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) controls the ball while New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) defends in the second half during game five of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden.
Celtics rumors: Boston’s stance on trading Jrue Holiday after failed NBA title defenseDavid Yapkowitz ·
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) looks to pass in the second half during game four of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden
Celtics’ Jayson Tatum issues 7-word message on Achilles injury rehabDaniel Donabedian ·
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots the ball as New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) defends in the second half during game four of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden.
Shaquille O’Neal throws shade at Celtics’ Jayson Tatum’s HOF credentialsZachary Howell ·
Jaylen Brown photoshopped in Spurs jersey
Spurs’ trade proposal for Jaylen Brown if Celtics blow it upBailey Bassett ·
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (middle left) and forward Tari Eason (middle right) hold towels on their faces during game seven of the first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Toyota Center.
NBA rumors: Rockets ‘anticipating’ Celtics trade talksDavid Yapkowitz ·
image thumbnail
Celtics rumors: Will Boston target rising center prospect in NBA Draft?Owen Crisafulli ·

“I’d probably give that to Smart because he just knows a lot,” he said. “I mean, he’s crazy as hell, but he knows a lot. He knows the other team’s s***, what they’ve got going on. He just knows a lot.”

Maybe the most interesting answers to this question? Tatum and Morris, both of whom have been frequently criticized for questionable shot selection this season, picking themselves as the Celtics' best would-be coach.