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Boston Celtics center Robert Williams, who has not played yet this season, per multiple reports, plans to make his 2022-23 debut this Friday against the Orlando Magic.
The Celtics boast a league-best 22-7 record through Wednesday’s games. They’re being led in scoring by Jayson Tatum at 30.2 PPG, Jaylen Brown at 26.6 PPG, and Malcolm Brogdon at 13.9 PPG.
At 9-20, the Magic have the 3rd worst record in the NBA, but they’re playing well lately and are riding a four-game winning streak.
Via Boston.com:
The Celtics defeated the Nets 103-92 on Sunday, extending the team’s record to a league-best 19-5. Boston faces the Raptors tonight in Toronto at 7:30 p.m…
Following the Celtics’ win over the Nets on Sunday, Jayson Tatum was asked about facing Brooklyn superstar Kevin Durant.
“That’s like a brother to me,” Tatum said of Durant. “Somebody I’ve gotten really close with. Obviously competed against a lot in the playoffs recently. Known since I was in high school, won a gold medal with, worked out with a lot this summer. So somebody that I respect a lot.
“We talk often,” Tatum added. “And those matchups always you enjoy. Somebody that has played at a high level — the highest level — for as long as he has, it brings the best out of you. So you always enjoy those matchups with one of the best players to ever play.”
The Boston Celtics have signed center Al Horford to a contract extension.
Per the Boston Herald, “the C’s did not disclose terms of the deal, but according to multiple reports, it’s a two-year, $20 million extension that will keep Horford in Boston through the 2024-25 season, when he turns 39. The center’s $26.5 million salary for 2022-23 now becomes fully guaranteed with the deal.”
Horford (6-9, 240) has appeared in 295 games (all starts) with the Celtics and averaged 12.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 49.5 percent from the field during his two stints with the organization from 2016-2019 and rejoined the team prior to the 2021-22 season.
“Al is such an important part of our team,” said Brad Stevens, President of Basketball Operations. “He’s a high-level player who enhances everyone around him on both ends of the court. His work ethic, commitment to his body and craft, and his unselfishness set a daily example on how to win big in the NBA. His leadership has had a big impact on the coaches and players he’s competed alongside here in Boston, and we’re excited that he and his family are choosing to remain Celtics for years to come.”
More from the Herald: “Horford will now effectively make $46.5 million over the next three seasons, a fair deal for a player who’s become integral to their championship aspirations.”
The five-time NBA All-Star has appeared in 968 career games (958 starts) during his 16-year career with Atlanta, Boston, Oklahoma City, and Philadelphia, during which he has averaged 13.6 points on 51.5 percent shooting, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 32.2 minutes per game. He is one of four active NBA players with at least 13,000 points, 7,500 rebounds, and 3,000 assists.
“Boston has become a home to me and my family as my teammates and I continue to strive towards winning Banner 18,” said Celtics center Al Horford.
Since being named to the 2008 NBA All-Rookie first team, Horford has collected All-NBA third team (2010-11) and All-Defensive second team (2017-2018) honors while reaching the NBA Playoffs 13 times.
The NBA today announced Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart as the NBA Cares Community Assist Award winner for the month of October in recognition of his ongoing support for pediatric cancer patients and commitment to creating access to opportunity for inner-city student-athletes.
Each month of the regular season the award recognizes a player who best demonstrates the passion that the league and NBA players share for giving back to their communities.
PER THE LEAGUE
Since joining the Boston Celtics in 2014, Smart has made it a priority to visit the Boston Children’s Hospital to spend one-on-one time with kids undergoing cancer treatments. As part of this effort, he also works to donate mobile charging stations loaded with tablets and video game consoles called “Smart Carts” designed to serve as entertainment hubs, as well as portals for communication and diversion during patients’ treatment and recovery. Over the past year and a half, Smart and his foundation, the YounGameChanger Foundation, have made “Smart Carts” available in seven different children’s hospitals throughout New England, one in his hometown of Dallas, TX, and two in collaboration with the JLH Social Impact Fund founded by Jrue (Milwaukee Bucks) and Lauren Holiday to support virtual programming at Children’s Wisconsin Hospital.
Smart primarily engages with his community through the YounGameChanger Foundation, a 501c3 he founded in 2014 to serve as a source of guidance, motivation, encouragement and empowerment for inner-city student-athletes to become game changers both on and off the court or field. The organization creates opportunities through education, sports and mentorship with emphasis on science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) and also seeks to provide inspiration and life-changing experiences for pediatric cancer patients and their families. Earlier this month on Nov. 10, Smart hosted his biggest fundraiser of the year, the Bowling Bash, to help further support his foundation’s donation of “Smart Carts” and laptops to children’s hospitals and communities in need.
“I started my YounGameChangers Foundation to serve as a source of guidance, motivation and empowerment for youth to be game changers on and off the court,” said Marcus Smart. “You never know what people are going through, so giving back to make their lives better in any way and letting them know they are not alone is important to me. I am honored to receive this award and will continue prioritizing serving my community.”
Smart will be recognized during an on-court ceremony before the Celtics’ home game against the Charlotte Hornets on Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Steve Pagliuca, Boston Celtics co-owner and president of the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, will present him with the award. The NBA will donate $10,000 to the YounGameChanger Foundation.
Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum is dealing with what is hopefully a minor issue. Via the Boston Herald:
Tatum is playing a little bit hurt right now. The Celtics star said after Wednesday’s win that he’s managing some discomfort in his left wrist, the same one he revealed that he fractured and played through during last season’s run to the NBA Finals. Tatum had tape on the wrist during Wednesday’s game.
“Same wrist, same hand, something a little different that we’re just managing at this moment,” Tatum said. “Nothing that I got to have surgery. It’s bothering me, but just tape it up and go out there and continue to play.”
The issue hasn’t seemed to affect Tatum’s performances as he’s playing the best basketball of his career to start this season. He’s averaging 31.2 points per game after Wednesday’s 31-point performance – which included 26 in the second half – while playing elite defense.
The Boston Celtics have signed forward Blake Griffin.
Griffin’s Celtics contract is reportedly a one-year deal for the league minimum.
Per the Boston Globe, “Griffin, 33, is no longer the explosive athlete who won the 2011 slam dunk championship, and he is a defensive liability. But he has adjusted his game over the years and become a capable 3-point shooter, despite hitting just 26.2 percent of his tries last year, when he averaged 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds for the Nets.”
Griffin, a 6’9” forward, appeared in 56 games (24 starts) where he averaged 6.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 17.1 minutes per game for Brooklyn last season. The six-time All-Star has appeared in 724 career games split between the LA Clippers, Detroit Pistons, and Brooklyn Nets and is one of nine current players in the NBA to average at least 19 points, eight rebounds, and four assists per game for their career. The 2010-11 NBA Rookie of the Year has also made the NBA Playoffs in nine of his 14 seasons.
More from the Globe: “Griffin was one of the more intriguing veteran free agents on the market, partly because of his glorious past. After missing his rookie season with a broken left kneecap, Griffin earned All-Star honors for five consecutive seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers. He was a one-man highlight reel, using his strength and jumping ability to victimize plenty of big men on dunks.”
The Boston Celtics have finalized their training camp roster for the 2022-23 season by adding Justin Jackson, Jake Layman, Luka Samanic, Brodric Thomas, Denzel Valentine and Noah Vonleh to the roster.
Jackson (6-8, 220), 27, has averaged 6.5 points (42.6% FG, 32.1% 3-PT, 79.9% FT), 2.5 rebounds and 18.7 minutes in 255 career games (61 starts) over five NBA seasons. He spent the 2021-22 season with two NBA call-ups to Boston and to Phoenix while playing for the Texas Legends of the NBA G-League where he averaged 17.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.33 steals while shooting 37.7 percent from three in 38 games.
Layman (6-8, 209), 28, has played in six NBA seasons split between Portland and Minnesota where he has appeared in 243 career games with averages of 4.8 points (46.0% FG, 30.0% 3-PT, 71.9% FT) and 1.7 rebounds in 12.8 minutes per game. The Norwood, MA native was originally selected by the Orlando Magic with the 47th overall pick in the second round of the 2016 NBA draft.
Samanic (6-10, 215), 22, spent last season playing for the Westchester Knicks in the NBA G-League where he averaged 27.9 points (54.8% FG, 36.7% 3-PT, 87.0% FT), 10.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 32.3 minutes per game. The 19th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by San Antonio has appeared in 36 career games in the NBA in San Antonio with career averages of 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds.
Thomas (6-5, 185), 25, spent last season as one of the Celtics’ two-way players where he averaged 15.7 points (45.7% FG, 38.7% 3-PT, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.72 steals in 30.6 minutes per game for the Maine Celtics. Thomas also appeared in 12 games for the Celtics last season.
Valentine (6-4, 220), 28, has appeared in 256 career games in the NBA averaging 7.0 points (39.4% FG, 36.0% 3-PT, 78.7% FT), 3.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 18.8 minutes per game. The former 14th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft by Chicago spent last season split between Cleveland and Utah in the NBA while also spending time with the Maine Celtics in the NBA G-League. While in Maine, Valentine averaged 14.6 points (44.0% FG, 35.2% 3-PT, 78.6% FT), 10.3 rebounds and 7.0 assists in 12 games.
Vonleh (6-10, 257), 27, played last season for the Shanghai Dongfang Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association where he averaged 14.4 points (45.1% FG, 38.8% 3-PT, 71.6% FT), 9.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.75 steals and 1.32 blocks per game in 28 appearances. The former ninth overall pick by Charlotte in 2014 was born in Salem, MA and has appeared in 339 career NBA games split between Charlotte, Portland, New York, Minnesota, Chicago, Denver and Brooklyn.
Boston opens preseason action against the Hornets at TD Garden on Oct. 2, its first of four preseason contests.
Boston Celtics forward Danilo Gallinari has undergone left knee revision ACL repair.
The surgery was performed by Celtics Team Physician Dr. Tony Schena at New England Baptist Hospital. Dr. Schena was assisted by Dr. Paul Weitzel, with Dr. Brian Cole also consulting on the case.
Per the Boston Globe, “Gallinari tore the same ligament in 2013. The Celtics didn’t provide a timeline for his return. But such injuries typically involve a recovery process of up to a year, meaning it would be unlikely for the veteran to play this season.”
Boston Celtics center Robert Williams has undergone arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies and address swelling in his left knee.
The surgery was performed by Celtics Team Physician Dr. Tony Schena at New England Baptist Hospital.
Williams is expected to return to basketball activities in 8-12 weeks.
The Boston Celtics have suspended head coach Ime Udoka for the entire 2022-23 NBA season for violations of team policies.
The suspension takes effect immediately.
The team says that a decision about his future with the Celtics beyond this season will be made at a later date.
Via Boston.com:
Per reports, Udoka was suspended for having an “intimate, consensual” relationship with a Celtics staffer. He reportedly does not intend to resign as he awaits the Celtics’ decision on his future status.
In his first season as Celtics coach, Udoka helped the team turn what started as a disappointing season into its most successful run since 2010. The Celtics were the hottest team in basketball over the second half of last season and made a run to the NBA Finals, where they were eliminated by the Warriors in six games.