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[Boston Celtics]

Celtics won’t rule out Jayson Tatum playing next season — but he won’t be rushing back

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Brad Stevens said the Celtics aren’t discussing a timeline for Tatum’s return — but didn’t entirely rule him out for the 2025-26 season.

The Indiana Pacers have formally ruled out Tyrese Haliburton playing next season as he recovers from an Achilles rupture he suffered last month. But Celtics general manager Brad Stevens declined to make a similar declaration regarding Jayson Tatum, who ruptured his Achilles tendon six weeks before Haliburton did.

“We’re not even talking about timeline for return,” Stevens said matter-of-factly on Tuesday. “We’re not even going there.”

From the jump, Stevens has made clear that the organization would prioritize Tatum’s long-term health and not put any pressure on him with an expected timeline. Stevens said that the six-time All-Star has been in the building daily, focused on his rehab.

The public got a glimpse of that last week, when Tatum posted a video of himself walking in a pool alongside his trainer and close friend, Nick Sang.

Jayson Tatum posted a video of himself walking in a pool today on Instagram as he continues his Achilles rupture rehab pic.twitter.com/Q7hQxW4tV9

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) July 6, 2025​

“Jayson is working every single day,” Stevens said. “He has literally been here every day except for a few day break. But when he takes a few days break, Nick goes with him, so he’s still working every single day.”

Jaylen Brown has also regularly been at the Auerbach Center ​

Jaylen Brown, who had knee surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus last month, has also been focused on his rehab daily. Brown is expected to be ready to go before training camp begins in October.

“We have no reason to believe Jaylen won’t be all clear and ready to go fairly shortly,” Stevens said.

Stevens noted it’s unusual for the Celtics' stars to be around the facility at this point in the offseason, and shared that Brown was in for a shooting workout early Tuesday morning and that Tatum seems to be progressing well.

“Jayson was in moving pretty fast on that boot today, so all indications are they’re both progressing at incredible rates, which is great,” Stevens said. “But we’re not gonna put any pressure on Jayson to get back anytime soon.”

Meanwhile, rookie Hugo Gonzalez said he feels “blessed” to get the chance to be around both veterans as he acclimates to the organization.

Very cool to see that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown — who are both rehabbing at the Auerbach Center — both met the rookies today

(Photos via Celtics Instagram) pic.twitter.com/PTGGXXAOHV

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) July 1, 2025​

“They are really, really good players, one of the best in the league,” Gonzalez said. “Having them near here, learning about them, and everything, is just an opportunity that I’m really blessed to have.”

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/7/...chilles-injury-recovery-timeline-brad-stevens

 

[Boston Celtics]

It is time for Jordan Walsh to dominate Summer League

Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

In his third trip to the Strip, Walsh needs to show he has graduated from the summer showcase.

It typically isn’t a great sign that a player is playing in Summer League entering their 3rd NBA season. If they are, they should look like the best player on the court.

Things I look for during Summer League:

Do the rookies look like they can hang athletically? Especially when going against experienced players.
What skills do returning players show off? Are they asked to play a very different role and handling it ok?
Are second- and…

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) July 5, 2025

Very simple rule for me.

If Baylor and Walsh don’t dominate, it’s not going to happen for them as nba players. https://t.co/7RzitPZTF9

— Matt (@Mahcus_Smaht) July 8, 2025

In last season’s Celtics Summer League opener, Jaden Springer had 23 points and 6 assists while Neemias Queta had 20 points and 9 rebounds. Springer would not play in Summer League again while Queta had 22 points and 8 rebounds in the Summer C’s next game before being shut down. They dominated, showing that they were above playing in Vegas.

Walsh, on the other hand, played in all five Summer League games the Celtics played in last year. He averaged 9.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists on 29% from the field and 13% from three.

He didn't look like just a guy — he was plain bad. That simply cannot be the case this year. He needs to stand out. On Friday against the Grizzlies, we need to see Walsh stand out and think he could be a guy who can help the Celtics.

Walsh: “I’m a vet now, which is nice.” pic.twitter.com/oIn3EVouAl

— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) July 8, 2025

Walsh’s athleticism has shown flashes at times and his range on defense is something to watch as well. However, he needs to be able to score the ball this time around. He needs to be able to get past a defender and finish around the cup. He needs to be able to knock down catch and shoot threes.

His offensive rebounding is something a lot of people liked coming out of school and he did that pretty well last summer with 1.8 offensive rebounds per game. However, the Celtics need more out of Walsh in the half court other than just crashing the offensive glass.

The Celtics just signed Josh Minott to a 2-year contract, a player who has a very similar archetype to Walsh — long rangy defenders who are athletic, pretty good offensive rebounders but have struggled to make threes at the NBA level. Minott played at Summer League last year, averaging 15.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game on 44% from the field and 23% from three.

Nothing special but better than Walsh looked.

Walsh also talked about putting too much pressure on himself last summer and how it led to his mix bag of results.

“When I went into it last year, I was kind of in the mentality of trying to be like Jayson Tatum, be Jaylen Brown,” Walsh said. “And it’s like, that’s not the same team, that’s not who I am, I’m not those guys. Now I’m going with the mentality of being me, being the best player that I can be, to affect winning in every [part] of the game.”

Jordan Walsh is coming into Summer League with a new mentality:

“When I went into it last year, I was kind of in the mentality of trying to be like Jayson Tatum, be Jaylen Brown. And it’s like, that’s not the same team, that’s not who I am, I’m not those guys. Now I’m going… pic.twitter.com/QkWczPKHFn

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) July 8, 2025

Jordan Walsh might not be putting pressure on himself, but the Celtics are. He needs to perform at a high level this time around in Vegas because unlike in his first two seasons, there is a chance that Walsh can carve out a consistent role for himself this upcoming season.

That needs to start with really high-level play over the next week plus at Summer League. He needs to show the Celtics brass that he has graduated by playing at a really high level in the first one or two games.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/7/...boston-celtics-arkansas-springer-queta-minott

 

[Boston Celtics]

Who will the Celtics face in next season’s NBA Cup?

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Boston is competing with four Eastern Conference rivals on the road to the NBA Cup in Vegas.

The groups for the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup were announced today and the Celtics were placed in Group East B alongside the Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and Philadelphia 76ers.

The #EmiratesNBACup 2025 Group Draw results!

Starting October 31, all 30 teams will compete for the NBA Cup with 8 teams advancing out of groups into the knockout rounds, with the semifinals and championship held in Las Vegas, December 13 and 16! pic.twitter.com/VJur4Hv0lL

— NBA (@NBA) July 9, 2025​

Boston has not found much success when it comes to competing for the NBA Cup in the past couple of years. In the inaugural 2023 In-Season Tournament, the Celtics went 3-1 in the group stages, winning Group C with their only loss coming against the Magic and their wins against the Nets, Raptors, and Bulls.

Who could forget the infamous final game against the Bulls where the Celtics dominated them by a score of 124-97 due to the fact they needed to win by 23+ points to win the point differential battle. Joe Mazzulla intentionally fouled Andre Drummond even though they already had a big lead in the game and it caused a bit of friction between at the time Bulls coach Billy Donovan.

After advancing to the knockout stage as the 3rd seed, the Celtics would face off against the 2nd seed Indiana Pacers where they would fall 122-112 in Indiana. This was first introduction to the Pacers on a national stage and they would ride the momentum all the way to the Finals of the Tournament but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the championship game.

The newly named Emirates NBA Cup in 2024 would not change the Celtics luck in this tournament after not qualifying for the Knockout Round after losing to the eventual Group C winners, Atlanta Hawks and missing out on the Wild Card. Boston beat the Bulls, Cavs, and Wizards but didn’t win the group due to a tie breaker with the Hawks.

That meant they needed the Bucks to beat the Pistons by 6+ points which they did AND the Magic to beat the Knicks OR the Knicks beat the Magic by 37+ points to sneak into the Wild Card spot. Sadly New York won 121-106 which meant the Celtics were officially knocked out of the NBA Cup. The Milwaukee Bucks would end up winning the NBA Cup as they beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Championship Game.

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

The NBA Cup starts on October 31st and the Celtics will host Brooklyn and Detroit with road games at Orlando and Philadelphia.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/7/...roit-pistons-orlando-magic-philadelphia-76ers

 

[Boston Celtics]

It’s time to accept the Niang reality

Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

The prevailing thought after the Kristaps Porzingis trade was that another move was on the way to re-route Georges Niang. But for now, it seems that he’ll be wearing green on Opening Night.

For the last few years, I’ve maintained a small offseason tradition as a Celtics enjoyer. For every trade, signing or draft pick made by Boston, I wait patiently for a Tomasz Kordylewski YouTube notification to drop for the new acquisition’s multi-minute highlight reel.

It doesn’t matter how well-acquainted I am of the player in question, I just get a small rush of enthusiasm out of the habit. When it came to Georges Niang’s 9-minute long compilation, I pushed it aside and waited for a trade.

And waited.

And waited.

Surely, Georges Niang – the trash-talking, round mound of shootaround who was classified as a C-list villain (at best) for the Celtics fanbase – was just an $8 million expiring detour on the way to greater cap flexibility, right?

As it stands now, that does not seem to be the case, with team social media posts welcoming him (and other rumored re-route candidate Anfernee Simons) to the team, followed by a statement and press conference from Brad Stevens that strongly hinted at the current roster being the general expectation for Opening Night.

“Niang has added value to winning to each team he’s been on. He’s a pain to play against, which I very much admire,” said Stevens in his Tuesday press conference.

This has not gone over well with many fans. It’s not hyperbole to say that Georges Niang may be the most disliked Celtics acquisition in years. Entering any of the comment sections of official Celtics social media posts about Niang requires a hazmat suit and a willingness to witness digital chaos.

Understandably, the 2023 seven-game series with Philadelphia plays a role in that, specifically Niang’s knee-grabbing antics on Jaylen Brown, along with an additional (albeit muted) appearance in the Cleveland playoff series in 2024, but it’s also just the type of player Niang is that rubs opponents the wrong way, and that’s largely by his own design as a trash-spewing rotation player.

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Niang lives to get under the skin, and it’s clearly effective, in part because he’s a modestly effective scoring threat and because he exudes a rare self-awareness of the fact that he’s not “The Guy” and he talks like it.

A role player talking trash? Seems like an easy retort for the opposition, yet Niang seems to be cognizant of the fact. Indeed, the Minivan understands which spots he can parallel in and which are best left to compact vehicles.

All this to say, Niang may not be the guy you want, but he’s the guy you have, and if we take a slight step back, there are at least some reasons to hold an optimistic view of the situation.

Niang may be a career negative on the defensive end, only reaching a positive Defensive Box Plus-Minus once in the past five years (with the 2020-21 Utah Jazz, ranked fourth in the league in defensive rating), but he is a respectable offensive contributor that shot 40% from the 3-point line in six of the last seven seasons.

And while Niang is just an average finisher at the rim (with below average burst and on-ball creation), the ways in which he generates shots are conducive to clean offensive structure. Niang spends the bulk of his time as a screen and roll/pop man (96% percentile in Pick & Roll/Pop/Slip frequency per Basketball Index) and as a perimeter shooter. At this stage in his career, he is one of the more efficient catch-and-shoot specialists in the league (40.8% C&S on threes).

He holds gravity as a shooter because he plays well off the gravity of others. There’s value in that. Add in a wing group that already features Sam Hauser and Baylor Scheierman, and the 3-point ideology of recent Celtics teams can still hold true outside of the primary creation of Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard and Derrick White.

Full disclosure, I have never considered myself a particularly big fan of Niang, like many Celtics fans, but I’m nothing if not an optimist, or at least someone empathetic to what is likely a very uncomfortable situation for Niang as he joins a fanbase that has collectively welcomed him with arms behind their back and a tomato in hand. This is far from an easy sell for many, but the least we can do is keep an open mind until games are played and evidence is displayed.

Ultimately, Niang is likely a full-season or deadline transaction away from being back in the bad graces of those who never wanted him in green in the first place. But he’s here now, and the focus should be to readjust to the areas he can help the team rather than the ways to get rid of him.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/7/...o-accept-georges-niang-reality-boston-celtics

 

[Boston Celtics]

Boston’s rookie class leaves positive first impressions in Summer League opener

Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

All three of Boston’s 2025 draft picks got significant run in their first Summer League appearance, impressing in multiple facets of the game on the way to a 92-78 victory over the Grizzlies.

After all three 2025 draft picks played over 20 minutes in their Summer League debuts, Celtics Summer League head coach Matt Reynolds instilled a lot of trust in the trio, who each played a part in a 92-78 win over the Memphis Grizzlies Friday afternoon.

First round pick Hugo González played a team-high 28 minutes, while second round selections Max Shulga and Amari Williams each made 21-minute starting appearances.

Experimenting with a faster pace and high pick-up points on the defensive end, the Celtics brought an electricity to Cox Pavilion in UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center, starting with a first impression from González that showcased a little bit of everything the young wing has to offer.

“Hugo and the whole team were just pressuring relentlessly the whole game,” Reynolds said. “That was an excellent tone that he and our backcourt set throughout the course of the game.”

Right off the bat, González made his presence felt, crashing the glass on Boston’s opening possession and finishing on a putback while racing back down the floor to jump in front of a baseline cut for an immediate Grizzlies turnover.

González had his struggles finishing around the rim, shooting 1-of-7 on attempts inside the arc, but his confidence from the 3-point line was a promising indicator of a young talent being emboldened to take the open shots available to him, even if the game’s pace was a little unfamiliar to him.

“It was hard to catch up with the pace,” González said. “In Europe, the game is a lot of times a little bit slower and you’re trying to have the possession until the end. Here, if you’ve got a shot, you’ve got to take it so that’s actually making the game really up and down. You’ve got to catch up with that if you want to play so I’m just trying to adapt.

“I’m pretty lucky that I’ve got a staff that is pushing me right now to get better and to perform really good. They’re giving me confidence to shoot whenever I’m open or whenever I think that I am in a good situation, so I think that’s the main thing.”

That encouragement extended to his struggles as well, including an instance where González missed three consecutive free throws late in the opening quarter, prompting Reynolds to yell from the sidelines for the rookie to keep his head up.

Outside of his 12 points, González left his fingerprints all over the game, dishing out five assists, initiating offense through the pick-and-roll, and battling on the defensive end as a screen-navigating, ball-hounding menace that had two blocks, one steal and two deflections.

Fantastic defensive possession from the #Celtics that’s rewarded with an open look from Hugo Gonzalez. pic.twitter.com/ydnk2HRmYu

— Robby Fletcher (@RFletcher_VT) July 11, 2025​

In 21 minutes, Shulga presented a steady hand as one of the team’s few traditional lead guards. Despite Memphis’ intense ball pressure, Shulga was rarely bothered running the point, ending the game with a clean sheet of zero turnovers, three assists and five points. One of those assists came off the efforts of a fantastic defensive sequence where Shulga closed off a driving lane, deflected a pass and passed the ball back and forth with Williams to set up an easy dunk for the Kentucky big man.

Shulga attempted just four shots, but two showcased the craftiness of the VCU product. Midway through the third quarter, Shulga wrapped around a Williams screen, stopped on a dime, and took the bump as he uncorked a deep shot that banked in with the foul. Early in the fourth, he dashed down the floor on a fastbreak, took more contact and flicked up a left-handed finish for another bucket through the whistle.

“I trust him a lot,” Reynolds said of Shulga. “I think he does everything pretty well, he’s very solid, you know what you’re getting with him, and I think he’s only going to improve as the course of Summer League and the rest of his career moves on.”

Williams also did a little bit of everything in his first Celtics appearance, scoring on all three of his shot attempts with 3-of-4 shooting from the line (9 points) and two blocks. Williams, already known as a playmaking hub, served up a beautiful skip pass assist on a Miles Norris 3-pointer late in the first quarter.

This pass from Amari Williams is just stupid lol pic.twitter.com/UByrK5pcym

— NikNBA (@__Kingnik) July 11, 2025​

Williams was challenged down in the paint, mostly facing off against 6-foot-11, 240-pound center Armando Bacot, who finished 7-of-13 from the field for 14 points to go with six rebounds. Bacot was able to muscle his way past Williams on a few occasions, but Williams was able to get one strong post-up on the block against Bacot that he finished with a left-handed turnaround hook shot.

As far as first impressions go, all three draft picks found ways to impact the game, starting things off on a solid note for the Summer League Celtics, who play their second game of the weekend on Sunday against the Knicks.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/7/...eague-hugo-gonzalez-amari-williams-max-shulga

 

[Boston Celtics]

Hugo Gonzalez’s debut included frustrating moments — and a ton of promise

Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

The 19-year-old Celtics rookie tallied 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists in his Summer League debut against the Grizzlies.

LAS VEGAS — Late in the second quarter of his NBA Summer League debut, Hugo Gonzalez was visibly displeased.

The 19-year-old Celtics rookie had just gone 1 for 5 from the free-throw line, and summer league head coach Matt Reynolds yelled encouraging words at him from the sideline:

“There’s plenty of game left!”

Gonzalez didn’t necessarily have a bad start — his game began with a putback layup, which he immediately followed with a deflection.

But the missed free throws stuck.

“I’m not allowing myself to miss like I did today,” Gonzalez said. “When I’m getting upset because of today’s game, it’s because of the free-throw line.”

Noticed the Celtics head coaches were constantly encouraging Hugo Gonzalez through some early misses:

“They were giving me confidence for my own ball game.” pic.twitter.com/Q7XVU6FzCU

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) July 11, 2025​

All in all, Gonzalez was solid in his debut game — he finished with 12 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds. And, defensively, Gonzalez was relentless, pressuring the ball and tallying two blocks and a steal.

“That was an excellent tone that he and our backcourt set throughout the course of the game,” said Reynolds.

Reynolds also praised Gonzalez’s decision-making, noting that the Spanish rookie made several good reads that didn’t translate in points.

“I thought that he created some advantages that we didn’t capitalize on, some that he might have just had a tough roll around the rim or a kick out that we missed, but I thought he was really composed down the stretch,” said the Celtics coach.

For Gonzalez, the debut was a challenging one, with the pace, in particular, posing an adjustment.

“It was hard,” he said. “I was feeling actually quite tired, but you gotta fight against that.”

But there weren’t any nerves, he explained, pointing to his breadth of professional experience and time playing in Europe. And, as he fielded questions in both English and Spanish, he came off as a pro.

Teammates have been impressed with the rookie so far. Center Charles Bassey, who was a late addition to the Celtics’ Summer League roster and is entering his fifth NBA season, pointed to an offensive bag that Gonzalez didn’t necessarily showcase in his debut.

“He loves that Euro step floater,” Bassey said. “I’ve never seen anybody block it. I tried to block it — I couldn’t. He’s a good player.”

The Celtics came away with a 92-78 victory in their first Summer League game. Ultimately, that’s what was most important to Gonzalez.

“I think that we performed really well,” Gonzalez said. “We won the game; that was the main objective. Before thinking of individual stuff and everything, we won the game. That’s what we’re here for.”

But he was stuck on the free throws.

“I’m not allowing myself to do that again.”

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/7/12/24465985/hugo-gonzalez-boston-celtics-rookie-debut

 

[Boston Celtics]

Jaylen Brown opens up on his Celtics journey, diehard fans, next year, and more

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

The Celtics All-Star shared his gratitude for a summer of immense love from the Boston community — and reflects on the upcoming season.

CAMBRIDGE — Nearly every week this summer, Jaylen Brown has hosted some sort of community event.

He’s held 741 Performance pop-ups outside of TD Garden, spent time at a Juneteenth celebration in Dorchester, and organized a Canobie Lake Park meet-and-greet in New Hampshire.

He’s surprised hundreds of kids at Roxbury schools, who erupted upon his unexpected arrival.

Last week, he hosted his week-long Bridge camp at MIT for high schoolers from the Boston area as part of the immersive educational program he’s been running since 2021.

But, for Brown, these events aren’t just a service to his community.

They are a therapeutic part of his Boston journey, one that has had well-chronicled ups and downs.

“It’s just as warming to me as it is to them,” Brown told me last week of these encounters. “It’s very, very mutual. The narrative is that I’m giving so much, but it’s so much they’re giving me as well.”

Jaylen Brown teaching one kid to square up and shoot before signing the basketball pic.twitter.com/0SdAI4NpMC

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) June 19, 2025​

The vibrant support from the community this summer carries extra significance, in part because Brown’s tenure with the Celtics hasn’t always been smooth sailing.

“It’s been a long journey here in Boston,” Brown said. “I’ve had to deal with a lot. I feel like I haven’t been able to be myself in certain capacities — because of the politics, and because maybe people feel uncomfortable with who I am.”

On the court, Brown has felt he’s made sacrifices and altered his game in ways that he hasn’t always agreed with.

“I disagree with a lot of things,” he said. “I’ve had to change roles, styles. I’ve had to do things that other players of my talent just haven’t had to do, and I’ve been okay with them, because I’ve always been a team guy. I feel like sometimes that gets taken for granted.”

At the same time, he recognizes that all of it — the good and the bad — ultimately culminated in what’s long been his primary goal: Banner 18.

“I’m extremely grateful that we won a championship,” Brown said. “I’m extremely grateful that we’ve been able to have success, and that’s what it’s about. It’s not all about you, it’s not all about me, you know what I mean? I want the next generation to know that as well — it’s okay to play your role on the team. It’s okay to do whatever, but don’t let that define you.”

Jaylen Brown’s time with Celtics fans this summer has been uplifting ​

When Brown is at a pop-up, and he sees a never-ending line of Celtics fans decked out in his No. 7 jersey, he reflects on some of the more difficult moments.

And oftentimes, he recognizes almost every face.

“These people have become my friends now,” Brown said, pointing to the dozens of people who show up hours early to nearly every event he participates in.

“I’m different. I’ve done different things, pissed people off, made people not like me, things like that. I appreciate those who show up. We have people show up in the rain. That is very appreciated by me.”

Jaylen Brown is signing 741 merch here outside of TD Garden for fans, many of whom have been waiting to meet him since the AM pic.twitter.com/6knWm9nM4w

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) May 24, 2025​

Brown thinks about those diehard fans as he gets in his early-morning rehab, as he hones his basketball skillset, and as he plays through pain.

“They’re part of the reason why you can never give up, because it’s disrespect to people that really, really, really believe in you,” he said.

“I appreciate them so much. They show up everywhere. They love the fact that I do stuff outside of [basketball], and that’s what you’re supposed to be about. Some people hate that I do that stuff, which is weird to me, but that’s the reality of the world that we live in. People just wish I would just play basketball instead of trying to help people in my community. I would never understand those people. But the people that show up are the people that I appreciate. They get it.”

Brown admittedly didn’t expect this summer to become the immersive, connected community experience it’s been. But after the Celtics were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season, he found himself with more time on his hands than usual.

“I was expecting to go back-to-back and win a championship, but that didn’t happen,” Brown said. “So, we had a little extra time. I had surgery, which I wasn’t expecting either. That kind of became a reality toward the end of the season, so rehab and stuff kept me here.”

In hindsight, though an early elimination and offseason surgery were far from ideal circumstances, Brown feels he’s made the most of the cards he was dealt.

And, connecting with his most fervent and loyal supporters has been a massive source of joy.

“It’s been great,” he said. “I’ve had so much fun every single week, seeing even some of the same people over and over, and meeting new people. It’s been awesome.”

Jaylen Brown is going down the line greeting fans who are (once again) waiting in the rain pic.twitter.com/8ZgKU1LFAB

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) June 7, 2025​

He appreciates that the same fans who line up in the extreme weather are probably some of the ones who fight for him online. Now, he knows them on a much deeper level.

“I don’t really fight for myself,” Brown said. “You don’t really see me go and disagree, or [say] what I actually feel and see and think — especially from a basketball perspective. I just kind of — whatever the team wants, whatever people need me to do, I’ve done.”

Brown sees the discourse around him, but said he’s typically reluctant to contribute or to dispel narratives he doesn’t agree with.

“I don’t really say a lot,” Brown said. “I just say the least possible, because I don’t want somebody to take my words, and go into a different direction, which is very, very popular through the media, especially in Boston.”

Brown is looking forward to the upcoming Celtics season ​

The night the Celtics were eliminated by the Knicks, the Celtics’ star addressed fans at the Madison Square Garden podium. Tatum had torn his Achilles just days before, and the mood was unsurprisingly somber.

“I know Boston — it looks gloomy right now, obviously with JT being out, and us ending the year, but it’s a lot to look forward to,” Brown said then. “I want the city to feel excited about that. This is not the end.”

When Brown made those remarks in mid-May, it wasn’t certain who would be on the team next season. For a moment, the status of nearly every player on the roster appeared up in the air — even his name circulated in trade rumors. And while the Celtics’ offseason isn’t officially over, the team’s roster is already dramatically different from last season’s.

At minimum, the Celtics will be without Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kornet – all of whom have formally departed this offseason. They will likely also be without Al Horford, who is reportedly expected to sign with the Golden State Warriors, and Jayson Tatum, who is expected to miss most, if not all, of the year recovering from his injury.

On the outside, many have described this upcoming season as a “rebuilding” or “retooling” season. The championship expectations that the franchise has faced for years are on a brief hiatus.

Still, there’s an undeniably strong core that the Celtics are poised to bring into the future. On Draft Night, Brad Stevens named Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard as foundational pieces on the roster, alongside Tatum. All three players could be due for a leap forward in their game next year.

Sam Hauser, whose name has also floated around in trade rumors, is another carryover from the championship rotation.

Asked Brad Stevens, amid the uncertainty, what he does expect from next year’s roster:

“We've got the foundation. With Jaylen and Jayson and D-White and Payton and all those guys that a lot of teams love to have.” pic.twitter.com/VJrtKJSyeo

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) June 26, 2025​

But, how the less proven frontcourt trio will fare remains an open question, with Stevens quipping, “We’re going to find out, right?” when asked about the big-man rotation last week, while subsequently expressing confidence in the potential of Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, and Amari Williams.

For the Celtics to exceed expectations, someone will have to anchor that more uncertain frontcourt. Additionally, Pritchard, who is fresh off a Sixth Man of the Year and his best-ever shooting season, will likely have to continue to up his game.

Above all, for the Celtics to surprise the basketball world, Brown will almost inevitably have to put together a career year. Last year, as he battled his first significant knee injury, his efficiency dropped substantially during the regular season. That came just a few months after the peak of his basketball career, when he was named both Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals MVP.

Next season, Brown feels up to the task to lead a Celtics roster that most people have counted out.

“I feel like I’m very talented,” Brown said. “I’m one of the talented people in this league, on this planet, I feel like. I’m looking forward to showing the world more.”

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/7/...ston-celtics-offseason-community-jayson-tatum

 

[Boston Celtics]

Summer Celtics exact revenge on Knicks, win 94-81

Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images

Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Charles Bassey shine on the Strip.

In a Game 7 we didn’t get a chance to see in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the Celtics beat the Knicks 94-81 in their second Summer League game on the Vegas Strip.

Led by a balanced attack from Boston’s draft picks, the Summer C’s overcame a poor-shooting night from 3 (5-of-27) with an aggressive defense (forcing 22 Knicks turnovers for 29 points).

The team had planned for Hugo Gonzalez to sit out one of the games of Boston’s back-to-back today and tomorrow. Gonzalez, along with Miles Norris, were on the bench in Cox Pavillion. In Gonzalez’s place, Baylor Scheierman filled in as the de facto point guard.

Many had hoped/projected Scheierman to make a Sam Hauser-type jump as a possible shooter/spacer, but coming out of Creighton, he already had a more well-rounded game. With a leaner, stronger body at his disposal, Scheierman had the ball in hands a lot against NY and dished out a team-high eight assists. He’s made just 2-of-15 from 3, but his shot has never been a concern. Rather, his developing skill set as a playmaker could immediately earn him playing time next season.

Stevens: "(Scheierman) played really well at the end of the regular season. The biggest challenge now is ... don't try to do too much. Don't try to be somebody that you're not."

— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) July 13, 2025​

When players are drafted, they come into the league with NBA-ready skills. Defense was Jordan Walsh’s calling card out of Arkansas was his defense. His offense was always going to be a work in progress, but after two years and with a chance to be a mainstay in the rotation, he’ll have to add that “three-and-” to his repertoire. Walsh is a confident shooter and that’s translated to some decent stretches, but the consistency hasn’t been there. Against the Summer Knicks, Walsh made just one of his six attempts, but he was attacking the rim and earned eleven trips to the line.

The curiosity over Charles Bassey’s strong play continues to grow in Sin City. After four seasons in San Antonio troubled with a torn ACL and a left knee bone bruise that forced him to miss half of last year, Bassey continued to be a force against New York, finishing with another double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds.

Second round pick Amari Williams finished with two points and three rebounds. Max Shulga had seven points and two assists, including several crafty finishes around the rim.

The Celtics play their third SL game tomorrow against the Miami Heat at 8 pm EST.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/7/...icks-win-94-81-baylor-scheierman-jordan-walsh

 

[Boston Celtics]

Joe Mazzulla had a message for Celtics forward after Summer League ejection

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

The Celtics head coach instantly texted Walsh that he loved his ejection in Monday’s match-up against the Heat.

LAS VEGAS — Jordan Walsh’s night didn’t end the way he wanted after he was ejected in the second quarter of Monday’s Summer League game against the Miami Heat.

But the 21-year-old Celtic nonetheless earned praise from head coach Joe Mazzulla after he picked up two technical fouls in 10 seconds and was tossed out of the game.

“As soon as I got ejected, I got to the locker room, I checked my phone, He was texting me, ‘I loved this out of you,’” Walsh said after the game. “So take that for what it is, but Joe was hype.”

Jordan Walsh said Joe Mazzulla loved his ejection and that he had a text from him by the time he got in the locker room:

“He told me he loved it.. Joe was hype.” pic.twitter.com/Cxt4pdDJyh

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) July 15, 2025​

And, while Mazzulla — who was sitting in the bleachers with his family — may have celebrated the play, Walsh apologized to Celtics general manager Brad Stevens.

Stevens was sitting courtside alongside new owner Bill Chisholm and other members of the front office, including assistant general manager Mike Zarren. The action developed right in front of the Celtics brass.

“I apologize to him, just because that’s not really me,” Walsh said. “I’m more of a professional than that, more mature than that — so I just wanted to make sure that he knew that this wasn’t gonna be a continuous thing.”

The ejection came as a result of two pushes — the first being a dust-up with Heat forward Eric Stevenson after he finished a running finger-roll layup, and the second coming Walsh fouled guard Pelle Larson.

Jordan Walsh has been ejected — got into a scuffle right into Bill Chisholm and Brad Stevens pic.twitter.com/ZHekGRsjVh

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) July 15, 2025​

Walsh said he momentarily forgot about the initial technical foul when he picked up his second. Summer League head coach Matt Reynolds said he didn’t even realize Walsh had picked up the first one.

Walsh said the extra aggression was in part the result of a desire to be an agitator.

“I feel like I’m trying to get into people’s skin, like I’m trying to get him off there,” he said. “I’m trying to get him confused and throw them off their rhythm. [It] ended up happening to me, but I want to disrupt everybody. I want to take out your rhythm. I want to take you out of your plays, your sets. I want to speed you up.”

Walsh was in the middle of a strong performance when he quickly accrued the two technicals, having scored 13 points on 5 of 8 shooting in 10 minutes. After the game, he explained he felt like he was standing up for himself after previously being pushed around this week.

Still, he regretted the decision to retaliate.

“I don’t ever want to get pushed around,” Walsh said. “I feel like this whole summer league I was getting hit and like it was like, doing all types of stuff to me. They was letting it go, so I was kind of like letting it slide. But at the same time, I should have known better than to take it to that next level. I feel like I knew better than that.”

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/7/15/24468018/joe-mazzulla-jordan-walsh-celtics-summer-league

 

[Boston Celtics]

Jalen Bridges embraces his opportunity with Summer League Celtics

Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

After a year on a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns, undrafted forward Jalen Bridges is looking to prove he belongs at the NBA level.

After spending his rookie season on a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns, 24-year-old forward Jalen Bridges is using an opportunity with the Summer League Celtics to find a new home in his young NBA career.

Bridges — a four-year college player that had stops at West Virginia and Baylor — was added to the Summer League roster two weeks ago, reportedly with an opportunity to battle for a roster spot at training camp this fall.

Jalen Bridges has been added to the Celtics summer league roster, I've been told, and will be going to camp with the team in the fall with a chance to make the roster. He played for Phoenix on a two-way contract as a rookie.

— Jay King (@ByJayKing) July 2, 2025​

Starting out the 2026 summer league as a DNP, Bridges was thrust into the starting lineup Sunday, delivering an efficient 16-point performance in just under 23 minutes during Boston’s 94-81 win over the Knicks. It was a productive two-way effort from the 6-foot-8 wing, who shot 6-of-10 from the field, grabbed five rebounds and came away with two steals and two blocks.

A day later against the Miami Heat, Bridges played 12 minutes in a 100-96 loss.

After a game spent on the bench while Boston fans extolled over the tenacious debut effort of first round pick Hugo Gonzalez, head coach Matt Reynolds praised Bridges for a workmanlike performance that helped the team to victory.

“I saw a guy that’s ready to play,” Reynolds said. “It’s not easy to do that, to watch from the bench and then get inserted into a starting lineup and just fill a role.

“I don’t think he was out there trying to do too much. He does exactly what you expect him to do. He’s a pro, he knows what he’s doing and we commend him for stepping in having not played and contributing to a win.”

In his lone season as a pro, Bridges had been a reliably productive perimeter shooter with size to crash the glass. Though he made eight brief appearances for the Phoenix Suns last year, Bridges had a promising sample size with their G-League affiliate, the Valley Suns, scoring 14 points per game across 31 regular season appearances, finishing with shooting splits of 42/39/79 to go with 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

It’d ultimately be a one-year trial for Bridges in Phoenix, and now he’s embracing the opportunity to impress for a Celtics team that currently has a full roster, but room to maneuver come training camp.

“Things kind of fell through there, they chose to go in a different direction,” Bridges said of his time in Phoenix. “I’m very self-aware, I don’t necessarily feel I gave them reasons to keep me. I felt like I had a good season, but I know what I’m capable of and I didn’t feel like I played up to that. I’m just happy for this opportunity.”

In his early minutes in Las Vegas, Bridges is leaning into his ability as a floor-spacing perimeter shooter, but he mentioned prioritizing effort in the little things as the primary method in which he’ll earn minutes on the floor and chances at open shots.

“My goals are just to go out and play hard, play with effort,” he said. “I feel like when you do that the basketball gods take care of you, the ball just seems to find you, whether that be in transition, making a layup, making an easy open shot. When you play hard, the rest takes care of itself. That’s just really what I’m trying to hang my hat on.”

Hailing from Fairmont, Bridges is a rare West Virginia native at the NBA level. The Fairmont Senior High standout is the first NBA player from the state since Donte Grantham, who played in three NBA games in 2019. Prior to that, Deron Williams and O.J. Mayo were the most recent recognizable faces from the Mountain State, though neither has played since 2018.

“I know where I come from, and I’m not trying to go back so I’ve gotta go a little bit harder than everybody else,” Bridges said. “That’s just the reality of the situation, especially when you have that undrafted tag on you.”

Bridges also has a small built-in connection to Joe Mazzulla, who coached his cousin during his time as head coach at Fairmont State.

After some promising moments in his first minutes of action, Bridges will continue to get opportunities in Vegas to show Boston’s coaching staff that he’s a serious candidate for a roster spot this season.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/7/...es-his-opportunity-with-summer-league-celtics

 

[Boston Celtics]

Saving the Celtics, one fake Anfernee Simons trade at a time

Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images

Exploring Anfernee Simons trade options that help the Celtics save money, stay competitive, and avoid wasting draft capital.

The fireworks were not fun this year. The Celtics traded away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis due to salary cap limitations, lost Luke Kornet to the San Antonio Spurs for the same reason, and Al Horford is all but officially gone as he attempts to join a more competitive team. Those NBA champions have been replaced by Anfernee Simons, Georges Niang, Josh Minott, and Luka Garza — some intriguing players with a wide range of success and experience in the NBA. However, none of them will be mistaken for Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford or Luke Kornet.

For now, it appears the free agency fireworks are over for the Boston Celtics. It seems the last big piece of unfinished business for Brad Stevens and the front office is whether Anfernee Simons is part of the plan for the 2025-2026 season.

Last week, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on The Hoop Collective podcast that “the Celtics are actively trying to trade Anfernee Simons.”

It makes sense for the Celtics to move Anfernee Simons for a couple of reasons. The obvious one being the glaring lack of talent at the big man spot. The other: the Celtics are currently $20.26 million over the luxury tax. While Brad Stevens has stressed that getting out of the luxury tax and resetting the repeater penalties is “not the priority. The priority is continuing to make sure we have our future firsts and all these things that are in play for us so that we can use those to build”.

What those comments mean to me is that the Celtics want to get under the luxury tax, but won’t deplete their assets to do it. I have to assume Brad doesn’t want to trade Sam Hauser purely for tax reasons. The preferred path is to trade Simons for less money, then trade Georges Niang into a Traded Player Exception.

Let’s look at Anfernee Simons and his potential value around the league. In this current salary cap environment, many teams are navigating a tricky landscape, either carefully managing their luxury tax, starting their repeater tax clock, avoiding the first or second aprons, or being constrained by those aprons. Small guards, who are excellent offensive players but play no defense that get paid $27 million are not in high demand. D’Angelo Russell signed a contract this offseason that will pay him $6 million this upcoming season. Simons is the better player, but not $20 million better.

But enough blabbering. It’s fake trade time.

Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images

Fake Trade #1: The Celtics bring in a Montenegrin big man

Boston Celtics receive Nikola Vucevic.

Chicago Bulls receive Anfernee Simons.

The Celtics get their big man and save $6.2 million in the process.

Who says no?

If the Celtics are trying to save money, they say yes. If the Celtics are trying to win games next season, they say yes. However, Vucevic is not a big man of the future. You could potentially re-sign Vuc to a cheap deal the following season and have him as a nice rotational piece, but that feels short-sighted. While there are obvious deficiencies at the big man spot, it makes more sense in a retooling season to try to develop some younger pieces. Also, Vuc might help the Celtics win a few too many games.

The Bulls just drafted Noa Essengue as their big man of the future, so they would be clearing the way for him to play more minutes. They also have Zach Collins and Jalen Smith as rotational bigs to fill the Vucevic departure. On the other hand, the Bulls have Coby White, who is a cheaper version of Anfernee Simons, as well as a myriad of perimeter players in Kevin Huerter, Ayo Dosunmu, and Isaac Okoro. I think the Bulls say no, but it’s the Bulls, so you never know.

Photo by Amanda Loman/Getty Images

Fake Trade #2: The Celtics acquire a tank commander

Boston Celtics receive Kyle Kuzma + 2026 second-round pick (via Utah).

Milwaukee Bucks receive Anfernee Simons.

The Celtics add needed front-court depth, save $5.3 million, add a pick, and acquire a player that will help them land a top-10 pick in the 2026 draft.

Who says no?

On the surface, adding a 6-foot-10 forward with ball skills makes sense for a Celtics team that projects to struggle on the glass this upcoming season. Taking on an additional year of big money for a player of Kuzma’s (low) caliber is likely a non-starter for Brad Stevens, even if the 2026 second-round pick from Utah projects to be in the low 30s.

The Bucks currently have one perimeter player on their roster who is a plus ball handler: Kevin Porter Jr. The Bucks desperately need the services of Anfernee Simons. If they throw in the remainder of their already depleted draft assets, maybe the Celtics would accept this deal.

Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images

Fake Trade #3 - The Celtics acquire a platter of Grizzlies

Boston Celtics receive Brandon Clarke, Vincent Williams Jr., and John Konchar.

Memphis Grizzlies receive Anfernee Simons.

The Celtics acquire smaller, movable salaries, an interesting prospect, and save $6.7 million.

Who says no?

This would be a home run trade for the Boston Celtics. They would acquire smaller salaries that they could then spin off to save more money, and they would bring in a good young player in Vince Williams.

Ja Morant and Ty Jerome are the lone reliable perimeter creators on the Grizzlies. Would the Grizzlies be interested in some Ja Morant insurance? Maybe they use this Simons trade as the catalyst to pull the plug on the Ja Morant era. Unfortunately, this is all wish-casting on the side of the Celtics. If Brad Stevens were willing to include a first-round draft pick to incentivize the Grizzlies to accept this deal, we might have something here.

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Fake Trade #5 - The Big Kahuna

Boston Celtics receive Rui Hachimura and John Konchar.

LA Lakers receive Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Georges Niang.

Memphis Grizzlies receive Anfernee Simons.

Utah Jazz receive Jared Vanderbilt + two second-round picks (swap rights with the LA Clippers and the worst of the Timberwolves, Knicks, Pelicans, Blazers).

The Celtics save $11.4 million and bolster their frontcourt. We might be onto something here.

Who says no?

Another potential home run for the Celtics front office. Saving $11.4 million while breaking Simons’ salary into two smaller contracts, one of which is Rui Hachimura, who fills a position of need, and the other, John Konchar, who is a solid role player you could either keep or flip to save more money.

The Lakers acquire more perimeter defense to try to plug the hole that is Luka Doncic’s defense. And more importantly, the Lakers clear long-term money for their pursuit of the next star that wants to land in their lap for no apparent reason.

The Grizzlies bring in more firepower and ball handling while shedding long-term money.

The Jazz are treated to two second-round picks for taking on Jared Vanderbilt’s contract.

This is the trade. Everybody wins.

Four-team trades are hard to pull off. Trades between two historic rivals are hard to pull off. But we did just see the first seven-team trade in history. Why not dream a little?

Call it in, Brad.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/7/...mons-trade-at-a-time-brad-stevens-mike-zarren

 

[Boston Celtics]

Neemias Queta just put up a ridiculous statline at EuroBasket

Less than a minute into Portugal’s opening game against the Neemias Queta squared up for a top-of-the-key three-pointer.

Swish.

The Celtics center, who has never hit a three-pointer in his four-year NBA career, sank one right off the bat in Portugal’s EuroBasket opener against the Czech Republic. Queta finished the game with 23 points, 18 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 2 steals, establishing himself as the game’s most dominant player on both ends.

Queta hit 10 of 15 shots and grabbed 3 offensive rebounds, leading Portugal to a critical 62-50 victory. It was Portugal’s first EuroBasket win since 2007.

Neemias Queta hits a three-pointer for the first basket of the game for Portugal pic.twitter.com/b4dpYfJQbz

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) August 27, 2025

The first half was a brilliant display of two-way dominance for Queta, who beat the halftime buzzer with an elbow jumper for 15 points on 7 of 8 shooting.

He swatted three shots in the first two quarters, but altered and prevented many more, with the game’s announcer at one point stating: “It’s gotten to the point for Czechia that if Queta’s nearby, they aren’t even going up with the basketball.”

As such, Portugal was markedly better with Queta on the floor; Portugal outscored Czechia by 21 points in his 30 minutes.

Neemias Queta beats the halftime buzzer for 15 points on 7-8 shooting

Hell of a half for him at EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/RIKNpwBpjW

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) August 27, 2025

The Czech Republic made a third-quarter run with Queta on the bench, but Portugal pulled away in the fourth quarter. Czechia cut the deficit to 5 with just under 6 minutes to play, but a Queta putback layup helped extend Portugal’s lead.

Neemias Queta with the big-time offensive putback

He has 19 point, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks pic.twitter.com/cUqXuDBnGv

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) August 27, 2025

Queta is one of more than a dozen NBA players currently playing in EuroBasket, Europe’s premier basketball tournament, which takes place every four years. 24 European teams are competing in group play, and 16 of those will qualify for the knockout stages.

For Portugal, guard Rafael Lisboa was also impactful, tallying 15 points and hitting 3 of 6 three-pointers. Only one Czech player scored in double figures: Vit Kerjci, who scored 1o points alongside 3 assists.

Neemias Queta, Portugal, face Nikola Jokic, Serbia, next​

It’s no surprise that Queta dominated Wednesday’s match-up against the Czech Republic; he was the only NBA player on the court, after all. But bigger challenges against more formidable NBA post players are coming.

Next up, Portugal faces Serbia — and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic — on Friday afternoon. Then, next week, Queta will be tasked with limiting Turkey’s Alperen Sengun and Latvia’s Kristaps Porzingis, too.

Here’s the full schedule of Portugal’s upcoming games:

1. Friday, August 29th at 2:15pm against Serbia
2. Saturday, August 30th at 2:15pm against Turkey
3. Monday, September 1st at 11am against Latvia
4. Wednesday, September 3rd at 7:45am against Estonia

Knockout games begin on Saturday, September 16th.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/boston-...ta-just-dominated-portugals-eurobasket-opener