Category: .Reactions

Boston Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck remembers Bill Russell’s ‘joyous laugh’

Grousbeck reflected on Russell’s infectious laugh and sense of humor in remembering the Celtics giant.

Boston Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck was among the lucky who was able to work with Boston Hall of Fame big man Bill Russell in the years before he passed through their connection via the Celtics organization.

“He was all-in on everything, including laughter and having fun and poking fun and smiling and just enjoying life and trying to make things better,” shared the team governor of his experiences with Russell over the years in an interview with local TV station WCVB Channel 5 Boston that aired in the wake of news of the Celtics great’s passing on this past Sunday.

It is more than understandable to turn to the USF product’s legendary status in the league with his 11 titles, 13 All-Star nods, and 5 MVPs awards. Or his historic activism in the US Civil Rights movements of the 1960s. But Grousbeck’s memory of his person is just as important.

Watch the clip embedded above for the full interview from the Celtics co-governor.

Check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Celtics legend Larry Bird reacts to news of new East finals MVP trophy being named for him

The Hick From French Lick HAD to take a shot at Magic Johnson here.

In 2022, the NBA revealed a new set of awards to be granted annually to the best individual player and team from each conference final. And Boston Celtics legendary small forward Larry Bird has his name attached to the Eastern Conference Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

To let them know, deputy league commissioner Mark Tatum called the individuals about the new set of hardware to share the news their names would be attached to the awards. The Hick From French Lick was on the call, and his reaction, captured on video, was shared by the league on Instagram.

“Thanks, Mark,” said Bird after hearing the news of his name being attached to the trophy of the conference he won three titles. “I just wish I could win me one of those Magic Johnson trophies.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CddoC6igLIk/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

“That would be the highlight of my career,” he joked, poking fun at his career-long rival and friend Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

Watch the clip above to see Bird’s full reaction to the news.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Warriors alum Quinn Cook also thinks it’s weird that Jayson Tatum is getting DNPs for Team USA

The former Dubs player thinks that should be “all the motivation he needs” to elevate his game even further, and he has a point. 

The drama unfolding about star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum might not be the worst thing in the world for Celtics fans. Especially given the potential motivation it might give the St. Louis native after receiving multiple DNPs for Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Tatum, who has been riding pine often enough that legends of the sport like Dick Vitale are even starting to scratch their heads in Olympic play, saw a similar conclusion reached about his predicament from another Golden State Warriors alum. Quinn Cook took to social media after Tatum’s odd DNP to say that “Tatum will win MVP this season!”

“Three straight All-NBA first teams, winning a gold medal in 2021 while being the second leading scorer on the team and just won his first NBA championship to not playing a minute for team USA,” he added with a pair of circumspect emojis. “Look out NBA”!

The former Dubs player thinks that should be “all the motivation he needs” to elevate his game even further, and we have to admit he has a point. 

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Dino Radja reacts to his best moments with Boston

The Croatian legend reflected on his best plays as a Celtic in this video.

Older fans of the Boston Celtics likely will recall the tenure of Hall of Fame Celtics big man Dino Radja as one of the few bright spots during the franchise’s darkest epoch. It was the so-called “wilderness era” between the end of the original big three of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish and the return to relevance in the early 2000s under fellow Boston alumnus and Hall of Famer Paul Pierce.

Radja saw his tenure in Boston shortened by injury, but he had plenty of memorable moments over the course of the four seasons he played for the Celtics (1993-97).

In a recent video produced by the NBA, Radja sat down and reacted to the biggest moments of his Celtics career on video.

Watch the clip embedded above to see the very best of Radja in Boston, whether it is to reminisce or watch for the very first time.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” “Celtics Lab,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics Lab 274: Evaluating Sam Hauser’s extension, Team USA’s struggles with Will Weir

Join us as we scrutinize the last flickering flames still burning from Boston’s banner season.

The Boston Celtics have finished their run in the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League, leaving the remaining trickle of news and the trio of Celtics playing for Team USA as the last flickering flames still burning from Boston’s banner season. But given we are on the threshold of the dog days of summer, we’ll take what we can get when it comes to Celtics basketball. 

And not all of that trickle of news is minor — Boston extended key reserve forward Sam Hauser on a team-friendly deal, for starters. This week on the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast, we link up with “Green With Envy” cohost Will Weir to talk about the Hauser extension, Team USA’s recent struggles and what might be behind them.

We even get into a little Celtics trivia for good measure, so dust off your old programs (or hit up basketball reference dot com, depending on your age) to study up and play along.


The Celtics Lab podcast is brought to you by Prize Picks and Gametime.


If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” “Celtics Lab,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Jaylen Brown calls out ESPN anchor following controversial take

Jaylen Brown has clapped back at Stephen A. Smith following his controversial statement during a recent episode of ESPN’s First Take.

Jaylen Brown has challenged Stephen A. Smith to name his sources after the ESPN anchor stated that he’s been told the Boston Celtics star forward lacks marketability. Smith’s comments came during a recent episode of “First Take,” during which he shared that an anonymous source had told him Brown’s attitude had led many around the NBA to dislike him.

Smith’s comments came during a discussion regarding the All-Star forward’s omission from an All-NBA team this season. Brown has been playing at an elite level yet was not recognized by the voting panel, leading to discussion surrounding his production and personality.

“It’s not so much that he’s underrated, it’s that he’s just not liked because of his, ‘I am better than you,’ attitude,” Smith said. “He knows it. It’s the same reason he is not as marketable as he should be. That’s what an NBA source just sent me.”

Smith has since responded and refused to give up his source. The veteran anchor noted how anonymity is part of journalism and that he defended Brown live on air despite being the one to read out the message in the first place.

Brown is currently playing in the Eastern Conference finals. The Celtics hold a 3-0 lead over the Indiana Pacers.

Any perceived lack of marketability will likely go out of the window if Brown can help his team win a championship. After all, winning solves everything, and Boston has been doing a whole lot of winning this year.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3UAVYRg

Spotify:  https://spoti.fi/3y0H4Lh

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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Austin Rivers, Pat Beverley respond to JJ Redick’s critique of Doc Rivers on accountability

Is Rivers a bad coach? Definitely not. Is he the source of the Bucks’ current woes? Not really! Does he have a track record of deflecting blame, regardless of whether he deserves it? Absolutely.

Former Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers has a bad habit of throwing his former players under the bus at times to deflect criticism of his coaching. While at times it may be justified, it also often has landed poorly among those who have played for him in the past. Such was the case with ex-NBAer and current broadcaster JJ Redick, who took Doc to task on social media.

That, in turn, rankled Rivers’ son, Austin Rivers, who replied to Redick’s critique by saying via Clutch Points “In terms of accountability, your best years in the NBA were when you played for him and the (Los Angeles) Clippers … It’s just very ironic and kinda weird that you have this energy towards him.”

Redick’s words also irked current Milwaukee Bucks (who Rivers coaches) guard Patrick Beverley, who wrote “This Man Doc actually saved your career. Started you when no one else wanted (to). And (you) retire, go on TV and say that.”

Redick could not help but reply, saying, “Pat my guy, I had a four-year offer with player option for the same money to be a starter for a different team. (expletive) ‘saved my career,'”

Is Rivers a bad coach? Definitely not. Is he the source of the Bucks’ current woes? Not really! Does he have a track record of deflecting blame, regardless of whether he deserves it? Absolutely. But then again, that may be true of many of us — most of whom are not being paid like an NBA head coach.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics’ Payton Pritchard calls out ex-Villanova coach Jay Wright on Donte DiVincenzo anecdote

“That’s cap,” tweeted Fast PP in response to a story that seemed to frame him as too intimidated to play for Villanova.

The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy recently shared an interesting anecdote shared with him by former Villanova head coach Jay Wright about Boston Celtics backup combo guard Payton Pritchard’s recruitment. “Pritchard … was ready to commit to Villanova despite playing a similar position to DiVincenzo,” said Wright via Bondy. “They hit it off during Pritchard’s official visit and played one-on-one-on-one with Brunson, which eventually rerouted Pritchard to … Oregon.”

“We thought they could play together like (Ryan Arcidiacono) did with Jalen (Brunson),” he added. “And they played one-on-one, and I think Payton was like, ‘Oh my God, we didn’t know about this guy (DiVincenzo).”And then after that, they were like, ‘We’re still going to look around.’'”

Somehow, that bit got in front of the eyes of former Celtics assistant coach Damon Stoudamire — now the head coach of Georgia Tech — on social media, who wrote “I’m gone have to call PP about this.”

It may have been a good story, and much of it may even be true. But when Fast PP replied to Stoudamire’s tweet, all he had to say was “that’s (cap)”.

For old heads like yours truly, that’s newspeak for “horse pucky”.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Jaylen Brown falls on final dunk to Mac McClung at 2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest

We broke down each of Celtics star Jaylen Brown’s dunks at the 2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Boston Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown came up short at the 2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest in Indianapolis Saturday night. Brown was the first All-Star since 2017 to participate in the event and the first Celtic since Gerald Green in 2007.

Brown made his way to the final round against defending champion Mac McClung of the G-League behind a blend of athleticism and nods to basketball history. In a competition that went down to the final dunk, however, Brown came up just short. He earned second place for the night, but ultimately went home empty handed.

Let’s take a closer look at how things shook out for Jaylen Brown at the 2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Celtics’ Jayson Tatum reacts to Charles Barkley doubting Boston can win it all

“Nobody’s going to give us the credit until we actually do it, and that’s fine,” said Tatum.

NBA players read about their negative press more often than they tend to admit, but it isn’t every day they get grilled on TV about it. But that is what happened to star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum on a recent appearance on the “CBS Mornings” show. Asked about comments from “Inside the NBA’s” Charles Barkley suggesting the Celtics aren’t tough enough to win a title, Tatum answered diplomatically.

“I mean, you have to give the respect, right?” he asked rhetorically via MassLive’s Nick O’Malley. “Those are the guys that paved the way for the younger players like myself.”

Still, he pushed back gently. “You don’t always have to agree,” said Tatum. “But you have to, in a sense, respect it because of the work that they put in.”

“I understand that in the times that we’re in,” he added. “You can’t win it – nobody can win a championship until you do it.”

“So, nobody’s going to give us the credit until we actually do it, and that’s fine.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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