Tag: Wyc Grousbeck

Wyc Grousbeck on how the Celtics came to select Joe Mazzulla as head coach

‘It was just very good luck,’ said Grousbeck of the Mazzulla hire.

It might not have been the way he would have preferred to have hired Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, but Celtics co-Governor Wyc Grousbeck is quite happy with Mazzulla helming his team as Boston starts a playoff push that will hopefully end in another finals appearance at minimum.

Speaking with Bally Sports’ Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Grousbeck revealed it was actually his former head coach and current team president who most knew what the Celtics were getting in Mazzulla.

“The person who felt like he knew what we were getting with Brad Stevens,” he related. “I asked Brad to step up to be GM the year before, and then we had to make the coaching change.”

“Brad strongly recommended Joe, so he gets that credit, and so does Joe,” continued Grousbeck. “But I’d gotten to know Joe personally during the playoff run, especially in Milwaukee (vs. the Bucks).”

“We had dinner, got to know each other, (and we) used to work out a little bit together in the gym, although he’s a complete maniac on the workout,” continued the Celtics co-owner.

“I’m just trying to survive, but I got to know Joe as an assistant coach more than I usually get to know assistant coaches. It was just very good luck. But this was Brad’s recommendation, and Brad is really looking brilliant right now.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

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

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

[mm-video type=video id=01gxymfeadaery9jyv5k playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gxymfeadaery9jyv5k/01gxymfeadaery9jyv5k-d3a07320bb274c46a169a5b677f31208.jpg]

Celtics Co-Governor Wyc Grousbeck on Boston’s first round series with the Atlanta Hawks

The Celtics co-owner weighed in on his expectations for Boston in their looming series with the Hawks.

Boston Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck recently took some time to sit down with the folks at WEEI’s “Greg Hill Show” to talk about the Celtics’ series with the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA’s 2023 Eastern Conference playoffs.

Grousbeck spoke about the matchup, what he expects to happen in Game 1, how comfortable he was with how Boston finished the 2022-23 season, his expectations for the Celtics in the postseason writ large, the depth of the team and the mindset of star forward Jayson Tatum heading into the postseason.

The crew also touched on how much pressure could be on head coach Joe Mazzulla, his thoughts about team ownership in the NBA and other leagues, and more.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

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

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

[mm-video type=video id=01gxtmamddxze1fgcm96 playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gxtmamddxze1fgcm96/01gxtmamddxze1fgcm96-3b10d55c05c87390bd9114adee0eb00e.jpg]

Wyc Grousbeck on the pressure to win for the Boston Cetics

Contention can add a layer of stress on what some might assume is smooth sailing.

While contending for an NBA title is exactly the position teams all 30 teams in the NBA would prefer to be in season to season, it is also a status that comes with a cost. That cost is the pressure of high expectations, and the limited room for error when making decisions about the ball club in question.

And that is the situation that the Boston Celtics currently find themselves in, with stretches of rough play, injuries, coaching mistakes, staff departures,  impatient fans, critical analysts, and the ever-present rumors about what might happen in the future all combine to add a layer of stress on what some might assume is pure smooth sailing.

To talk about exactly these kinds of pressures, as well as where the team is at and what he believes needs to happen for the Celtics to truly contend for a title, Boston co-Governor Wyc Grousbeck recently made an appearance on WEEI’s “Greg Hill Show”.

To hear what Grousbeck has to say about a critical moment in the Celtics’ season, take a look at the clip embedded above.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

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

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck on the potential for pro sports teams as investments

While an unabashed Boston fan, the Celtics are also an investment for Grousbeck — and one he believes ought to become an increasingly popular option.

Lead Boston Celtics Governor Wyc Grousbeck is an unabashed fan of the team he is a part owner of. Even with the enthusiasm he brings to the table regarding the on-court fortunes of the club, the Celtics are also an investment for Grousbeck — one he believes ought to become an increasingly popular option.

In a recent interview with The Street’s Dan Weil, Grousbeck shared  “(i)nvesting in pro sports … has been the best business decision” of his life. “That’s not just for financial reasons, but for pure enjoyment and the ability to make an impact in the community.”

“I would be happy to see other people enjoy the possible benefits of being part of a pro team,” he added. “The Celtics themselves were publicly traded on the (New York Stock Exchange) before I organized my ownership group and took them private in 2002.”

“I can understand broad investor desire to participate in our teams because we offer diversification into a different type of asset class that may not be correlated with other markets,” suggested the Celtics owner.

“I think pro team valuations primarily reflect the thrill of being able to compete on a global stage,” related Grousbeck on pro sports teams’ potential to grow in value. “Owning a team is very enjoyable as a competitor and if you want to be able to give back to the community.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

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

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

[mm-video type=video id=01gse45wqmetaee3m0t4 playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01f1jxkahtwnvzepyp image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gse45wqmetaee3m0t4/01gse45wqmetaee3m0t4-5921914bea1572308afc8b509a2a7443.jpg]

Wyc Grousbeck on why the Boston Celtics made Joe Mazzulla head coach

For the front office, it was the right time to drop the interim tag.

The Boston Celtics officially removed the interim tag last week from head coach Joe Mazzulla, just in time for the West Virginia alumnus to head to Utah’s Salt Lake City for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game. That means he was not the first interim head coach to helm an All-Star squad.

Mazzulla likely is not too disappointed by that fact. Neither was team lead Governor Wyc Grousbeck, who sat down with the folks over at the WCVB Channel 5 News to discuss why he and the rest of the front office felt it was the right moment to promote Mazzulla. The WCVB folks posted the interview to their YouTube Channel.

Starting the gig in about as difficult a situation imaginable in the wake of the Ime Udoka scandal and coaching a team to the best record in the league is a good start.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear why else Grousbeck et. al. chose to make Mazzulla the official 19th head of the Celtics organization.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

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

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

[mm-video type=video id=01grvtjwk7r1tpmjd34e playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01f5k5xtr64thj7fw2 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01grvtjwk7r1tpmjd34e/01grvtjwk7r1tpmjd34e-850bf62a7bd82e54b8559c4b237f973b.jpg]

Celtics Governor Wyc Grousbeck says he told Jaylen Brown personally he wouldn’t be dealt at the deadline

The Celtics’ lead Governor reassured Brown the rumors linking him to Kevin Durant again were false.

The Boston Celtics found themselves back in the position of seeing star wing Jaylen Brown’s name tied to Kevin Durant yet again at the 2023 NBA trade deadline. And according to lead governor Wyc Grousbeck, it was also untrue. Speaking to the hosts of the eponymous “Greg Hill” show on WEEI, Grousbeck revealed he reached out to Brown personally when the rumors broke via ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.

“(Celtics team president) Brad (Stephens) is on the phone with every team, definitely every week during the season,” explained Grousbeck. “(He’s) just saying, ‘Who do you like? Who is playing well? Who do you like on our roster?'”

“He files it away in his mental database,” shared the Celtics governor. “That’s just that — they talk all the time about everything, it doesn’t mean a trade is proposed.”

“Jaylen is not going anywhere,” emphasized Grousbeck. “He knew that before the trade deadline because I told him personally.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

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

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

[mm-video type=video id=01grvtjwk7r1tpmjd34e playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01f5k5xtr64thj7fw2 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01grvtjwk7r1tpmjd34e/01grvtjwk7r1tpmjd34e-850bf62a7bd82e54b8559c4b237f973b.jpg]

Are the Boston Celtics going to go all-in at the trade deadline? From the sound of ownership — yes

From the sounds of things, Boston plans on pushing the chips in at the trade deadline.

Fans of the Boston Celtics have been hooked on fireworks in the form of trades since the deal that brought Kevin Garnett to the ball club in 2007 set the stage for Banner 17. Now, with the team contending again and in the best position in years to have a shot at taking home the elusive Banner 18, Celtics co-governor Wyc Grousbeck sounds as if the team has the green light to do whatever is necessary at the 2023 trade deadline to prepare the club for a serious run at the 2023 NBA Championship.

“The conversation that I have had — that I have shared — with Brad (Stevens, team president) is (that) it’s about this year,” explained Grousbeck in a recent interview with NBC Boston Sports. “It’s not about ‘this will pay dividends in three years,’ or ‘this will do this next year’ — it is ‘this year, muscle up, and let’s get the job done’.”

“So, that’s his instructions, and that’s what we’re going to try to do,” he added. “If there’s anything to do, we’ll do it. If not, we love this team, we’re at the top of the elite right now.”

This doesn’t likely mean a blockbuster trade, of course. Such a player may not even shake lose by the deadline given how much parity there is in the league right now.

But it does put some fuel on the fire of more costly options Boston could try to trade for — the Jakob Poeltls and Jarred Vanderbilts of the league, to be clearer — while also positioning Boston as a team that does not HAVE to make a move.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

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

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

[mm-video type=video id=01gqg9tj9mmj1yr5nr6h playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01f5k5xtr64thj7fw2 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gqg9tj9mmj1yr5nr6h/01gqg9tj9mmj1yr5nr6h-a6f8529006faae0786f8b071bf45168c.jpg]

[vertical-gallery id=116373]

[lawrence-related id=116223,116199,116218,116347,116209,116211]

[listicle id=116401]

[listicle id=116369]

[listicle id=116356]

[listicle id=116043]

On this day: Boston Basketball Partners announce purchase of team

On this day in 2002, Boston Basketball Partners formally announced their purchase of the Boston Celtics from former owner Paul Gaston.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the Boston Basketball Partners, L.L.C. announced that they had completed the purchase of the Celtics NBA basketball franchise from the previous owners in 2002.

Boston Basketball Partners is an investment firm made up of a managing board comprised of Wyc Grousbeck, H. Irving Grousbeck, Stephen Pagliuca, and The Abbey Group (consisting of Robert Epstein, Paul Edgerley, Glenn Hutchins, and James Pallotta), who together purchased the team from owner Paul Gaston. Previously announced on September 27th that the partners would purchase the team pending NBA approval, the investment group issued a press release formally announcing the transfer of the club.

“We are extremely excited to be a part of the glory and tradition that is the Boston Celtics,” related Managing Partner H. Irving Grousbeck via the Celtics.

Boston Celtics listed as fifth most-valuable NBA franchise according to Forbes

The Boston Celtics are worth $4 billion, the fifth highest mark in the NBA.

According to the most recent data compiled by Forbes’ Mike Ozanian and Justin Teitelbaum, the Boston Celtics are the fifth most valuable franchise in the NBA. The financial magazine stated the top five most valuable clubs are, in order, the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, and Celtics.

Boston was valued at a whopping $4 billion this year. Golden State, at the top of Forbes’ list of valuated franchises, is worth roughly $7 billion. The Warriors raked in a total of $250 million in premium seating alone last season to help them elevate to first place on the list

NBA teams are now, on average, worth $2.86 billion, up 15% from last year. This growth is partly driven by record sponsorship revenue, and franchises around the league are making money across the board. This means owners are pocketing annual profits while watching their initial investments – their respective franchises – grow in value over time.

Boston Celtics co-Governors Wyc Grousbeck and Steven Pagliuca reflect on the Big 3 era

Grousbeck and Pagliuca sat down with the folks at NBC Sports Boston to talk over the team’s story over the prior twenty years.

The Boston Celtics recently won the 1,000th game since the ownership group led by the ball club’s co-govorners Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca bought the team two decades ago. Since that eventful investment went down, the Celtics have won an NBA title (2008), three Eastern Conference championships (2008, 2010 and 2022), and eight Atlantic Division titles (2005, 2008-11, 2017 and 2022).

To talk over their historic tenure with one of the northeast’s most beloved sports teams and among the most storied ball clubs in the history of the NBA, Grousbeck, and Pagliuca sat down with the folks at NBC Sports Boston to talk over the team’s story over the prior 20 years.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what the pair of Celtics owners had in their bag of tales to tell.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

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

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

[mm-video type=video id=01gfnrn1n3n3t4j9vw0j playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gfnrn1n3n3t4j9vw0j/01gfnrn1n3n3t4j9vw0j-e667f3ffd1adf924e0c67deb2c4291a4.jpg]

[vertical-gallery id=111249]

[lawrence-related id=111217,111198,111213,111189,111326,111287]

[listicle id=111130]

[listicle id=111250]

[listicle id=111079]

[listicle id=111193]