Xavier Tillman

Celtics Notes: Kornet, Tillman, Mazzulla, Brogdon, NBA Cup

November 23rd, 2024 at 6:16pm CST by Arthur Hill

Neemias Queta has seen an increased role this season, but Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla turned to two other big men after a sluggish first half at Washington Friday night, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. The first was Luke Kornet, who replaced Queta in the starting lineup for the second half. He responded with a 3-for-3 shooting night and a few hustle plays that had his teammates raving after the game.

“Energy, energy. Luke is just a ball of energy,” Jrue Holiday said. “He makes plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet, but when you’re out there playing with him, it’s like he’s just trying to run through a brick wall and you wanna do that with him.”

Later on, Mazzulla inserted Xavier Tillman, who has been out of the rotation for several weeks. Tillman played nine minutes in the second half, including a rare crunch time appearance.

“I just thought that (Xavier’s) been working hard and I felt like the game needed something different,” Mazzulla said. “Those guys are always ready and we wanted to be a little more switching and the last time we played them, we played him and Luke together and he did some great things on the defensive end, especially on (Jonas) Valanciunas. So I just kind of wanted to win those minutes in the fourth quarter. Credit to him just working hard and being ready and I thought he gave us some good stuff.”

There’s more from Boston:

Mazzulla explained that he was “manipulating the environment” on Friday when he got whistled for a technical for angrily confronting referee Ed Malloy after a play where he believed Jaylen Brown got fouled, according to Souichi Terada of MassLive. Mazzulla admitted it was an intentional tactic, and his players took notice. “I think that it was smart just to know that like he has our back no matter what,” Holiday said. “He was disrespectful in a respectful way, so I think getting that tech just showing us that like, yeah, I’m gonna fight for you guys and then having the crowd behind us even in that situation was big.”
Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon admits being angry after the Celtics traded him to Portland last summer, but he has made peace with the situation, per Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. After winning Sixth Man of The Year honors and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in his lone season with Boston, Brogdon has moved on to two rebuilding franchises. “You play with the cards you’re dealt at a certain point,” he said. “Things change at some point in your career. For me it’s changed a few times over the past couple of years. It’s embracing the situation that you’re in. I’ve been tasked to lead with these young guys and with this growing team and honestly I’m enjoying it. The Wizards are building the right way.”
After being surprised by Atlanta in their NBA Cup opener, the Celtics have posted back-to-back wins over Cleveland and Washington that have them in a good position to advance, notes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. They’ll win East Group C if they can beat the Bulls in Chicago and Cleveland defeats the Hawks. If Boston and Atlanta wind up tied at 3-1, the Celtics will have to rely on their point differential, which is currently +14.

Celtics Notes: Brissett, Grousbeck, Porzingis, Tillman

November 22nd, 2024 at 10:03am CST by Arthur Hill

Free agent forward Oshae Brissett joined his former Celtics teammates for Thursday’s visit to the White House, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. Brissett was part of the 2024 championship team after signing a two-year contract with a $2.58MM player option in the summer of 2023. He declined that option over the offseason in hopes of getting a better offer from another team, but that still hasn’t happened.

“It was fun to see Oshae Brissett here,” vice president of basketball operations Mike Warren said. “He hasn’t been around this year but it was cool for him. We got him his ring. That was a neat moment.”

Brissett had a smaller role than he expected last year, averaging 3.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 55 games while playing a career-low 11.5 minutes per night. However, Robb points out that he still has a strong bond with his ex-teammates. Boston is carrying an open roster spot, but Robb states that it’s unlikely to be filled before the trade deadline and there’s no guarantee Brissett will still be available.

“It was really cool to see Brissy again and have him be here and a part of it,” Derrick White said. “Obviously, he was a big member of our team last year, so it was great to have him here and get the old gang back together.”

There’s more on the Celtics:

Following the ceremony, owner Wyc Grousbeck reiterated his plan to remain in his position as governor of the team after the impending sale is completed, per Souichi Terada of MassLive. “I don’t have any comments on the sale process,” Grousbeck told reporters. “It’s underway. There’s a lot of interest. That is one comment, I guess, but I’d like to limit it to that. The plan is that I will stay for three more years. That’s what’s laid out. We’ll go from there.”
Kristaps Porzingis may be able to beat the December return date that was projected after offseason surgery, Robb states in a separate story. Team sources told Robb that Porzingis felt good after participating in a scrimmage with G League Maine Celtics this week, and teammates who viewed the session liked what they saw. “I was able to watch a little bit of it,” Al Horford said. “Just excited, excited to see KP out there. He’s doing more and more stuff with us in practice and just really encouraging. Obviously we don’t know when he’s returning, but we’re just excited to see him doing more stuff with us, being more involved playing and getting his legs underneath him.”
Head coach Joe Mazzulla was impressed that Xavier Tillman volunteered to take part in the scrimmage to give Porzingis some NBA-level competition, Robb adds. Tillman’s playing time has been severely reduced recently as he has fallen behind Neemias Queta in the Celtics’ big-man rotation. “He just wanted to play,” Mazzulla said. “It was an opportunity to play, and he’s obviously done a great job of just doing what we’ve asked him to do, and so it’s a credit to him. We got a lot of respect for him for making that decision. He’s got to keep getting better and better. He’s brought great character, a great work ethic to it.”

Atlantic Notes: Sixers’ Struggles, Embiid, Drummond, Porzingis, Tillman

November 18th, 2024 at 11:54am CST by Tristan Tucker

The Sixers hold the NBA’s second-worst record at 2-10, only one game ahead of the Raptors for last place in the league. They rank last in the league in scoring, rebounding, assists and shooting. Amid the early season struggles, they’ve had some bright spots like rookie Jared McCain‘s strong play and Guerschon Yabusele‘s return to the league.

This version of the Sixers wasn’t built on silver linings. They were built to contend this offseason when they cleared their books in order to sign wing Paul George, re-sign guard Tyrese Maxey, and add several role players like Caleb Martin and Andre Drummond. Still, it’s impossible to overlook the difficult hand they’ve been dealt with injuries. Each of their three stars – Joel Embiid, Maxey and George – has dealt with a multi-week injury and the trio has yet to suit up in the same game this season.

Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer ponders whether the injuries are truly the only thing to blame for Philadelphia’s start or if there’s more going on.

“We’ve really got to get serious about the execution side of the offense, right?” coach Nick Nurse said. “… It’s not easy with a whole bunch of new guys and guys coming in and out, obviously. But that’s what we are. So we got to get to work on it for sure.”

There are areas for concern even at full health, Pompey opines. Maxey needs to regain his shooting touch from last year, as he’s only made 28.6% of his three-point attempts. George’s averages are also down from last season — he has scored 16.5 points per game on 39.8% shooting from the field (down from 22.6 PPG on 47.1% shooting last year). Embiid is also averaging 16.5 PPG on 26.9% shooting in two games. For my money, these are all small sample sizes and the raw numbers seem likely to balance out when the trio plays more together. Still, it’s a trend worth monitoring.

Pompey also adds that late-game struggles are an issue that needs fixing. After taking an eight-point lead on Friday against Orlando, the 76ers surrendered a 16-0 run and ended up losing.

“It seems like it’s every game,” Embiid said. “We have a very good 30 minutes. … [then fall apart] … especially, because we’re not at full strength and [I’m] not myself yet. So it feels like you don’t have a lot of margin for error.”

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Things likely won’t get any easier for the Sixers on Monday against the Heat. Embiid is listed as doubtful for the tilt in Miami due to an illness, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). If he’s ruled out, it would mark Embiid’s 11th game missed due to injury, illness, or suspension this fall.
Drummond only logged four first-half minutes on Friday against Orlando after missing last Wednesday’s loss to Cleveland while dealing with an illness. Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes that the Sixers‘ backup center looked “a lot bouncier and fresher” in Sunday’s practice, per Nurse. Yabusele logged backup center minutes against Orlando. Rookie second-round pick Adem Bona was assigned to the Delaware Blue Coats on Sunday but was quickly recalled on Monday, per PHLY Sports’ Derek Bodner (Twitter link) signaling Philadelphia’s lack of healthy frontcourt options.
Celtics center/forward Kristaps Porzingis has reached the next phase of his recovery process, per a release from the team. As part of his rehab process, he and Xavier Tillman were assigned to the G League’s Maine Celtics for a practice on Monday afternoon. After this practice, the pair will be recalled to Boston where Porzingis will continue to ramp up his workload. No further updates on a timeline are available. Porzingis hasn’t yet made his 2024 debut after undergoing offseason leg surgery. Tillman isn’t injured but was a DNP-CD in Boston’s last game and is averaging 1.5 points on 26.1% shooting this season.
The Knicks are undefeated this season when Karl-Anthony Towns has at least four assists, and Ian Begley of SNY writes that the team believes his passing has reached a new level. “He’s always been unselfish. He’s always been a team-first guy. But now I think he really sees things,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He understands what the defense is trying to do. He knows if there is overhelp. He’s seeing the whole floor now. Initially, like most young guys, the vision was more narrow. It may have been on one guy. But now he sees more than one guy. He sees the defense, he knows where everyone is. (He knows) if there’s overhelp, I can fake here and throw there. That goes a long way.”

Atlantic Notes: Maxey, Raptors, Bridges, Celtics

November 15th, 2024 at 10:00am CST by Luke Adams

Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey, who is recovering from a right hamstring strain, has resumed on-court work and will be reevaluated early next week, the team announced today (Twitter link via Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer).

When Maxey’s hamstring injury was confirmed last Thursday, the team said he’d be reevaluated in one week, while reporting from Shams Charania of ESPN indicated he would likely be sidelined for approximately two weeks. Based on the latest update from the Sixers, it sounds like Maxey is still on track to meet that timeline, though we’ll have to wait to see how next week’s evaluation goes.

Here’s more from around the Atlantic:

Even after holding Milwaukee to 99 points on Tuesday, the Raptors rank 28th in the NBA with a 118.4 defensive rating. As Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca writes, the team will need to clean things up on that side of the ball in order to be competitive and seemingly has the personnel to improve its performance. According to Grange, two keys for the Raptors will be reducing their foul rate and their turnover rate. They rank dead last in the league with 24.4 fouls per game and are 29th in opponents’ points off turnovers (23.2 per game).
Knicks forward Mikal Bridges is looking forward to facing his old team, the Nets, on Friday for the first time since being traded from Brooklyn to New York over the summer. “I think it’ll be good to see my guys,” Bridges said, per Zach Braziller of The New York Post. “I have a lot of good friends over there, even the coaching staff that’s there, all the way up to (general manager) Sean Marks and (assistant GM) Andy (Birdsong). I’m real close with a lot of those guys, so it will be good to see them.” As Braziller observes, the 5-6 Knicks are just a half-game ahead of the 5-7 Nets in the standings so far, with Bridges (15.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, .304 3PT%) off to a relatively quiet start.
In a mailbag for MassLive.com, Brian Robb discusses Xavier Tillman‘s early-season struggles and explains why a reunion with former Boston center Robert Williams isn’t a viable trade option, among other Celtics-related topics.

Celtics Notes: Brown, Tatum, Queta, Lee

November 3rd, 2024 at 10:56am CST by Arthur Hill

A hip flexor issue that forced Celtics guard Jaylen Brown to miss Saturday’s game has been bothering him for several weeks, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Brown sat out the second game of a back-to-back in Charlotte after playing 37 minutes on Friday night. An MRI two weeks ago revealed that it’s a strain and showed fluid in the affected area, and Brown plans to have more imaging done because his condition has worsened.

“I got an MRI in training camp and it’s been back and forth since then,” he said. “[Friday] I think I extended it a little more, and it’s already been giving me some trouble. I’m going to have to get another MRI and go from there.”

Brown is still playing at an All-Star level, averaging 25.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists through the first six games of the season. Saturday’s contest is the first one he has missed, and coach Joe Mazzulla told Washburn that Brown is considered day-to-day. He hopes to return for Monday’s game in his hometown of Atlanta, but he’s not sure how his body will respond.

“I haven’t felt like my legs have been underneath me, dealing with this hip flexor,” Brown said. “It’s more [affecting] my explosion and my burst. And then, mentally, trying to figure that out as well. Thinking about it kind of throws everything off a little bit, but I’ll be fine.”

There’s more on the Celtics:

An NBA source tells Washburn that Jayson Tatum talked with former teammate Grant Williams after Williams was ejected Friday for a hard foul on Tatum. Williams was reportedly apologetic and they patched up any differences, although they didn’t greet each other before or after Saturday’s contest. Tatum refused to discuss the incident while meeting with reporters Saturday (Twitter video link from Kayla Burton of NBC Sports Boston).
Mazzulla turned to center Neemias Queta to finish Saturday’s game rather than Luke Kornet or Xavier Tillman, observes Brian Robb of MassLive. Kornet got the start, but Queta logged 15 minutes off the bench compared to three for Tillman and appears to have passed him in the rotation.
Charles Lee only spent one season as an assistant in Boston, but he believes it helped him get hired as head coach of the Hornets, Washburn adds in a separate story. Lee said he learned a lot from being part of a title-winning team. “It’s cool to go to a championship-caliber organization with so much history,” he said. “How they structured their everyday schedule and what it means to be a Celtic. It was really cool and interesting for me and my family to experience. As a coach I was able to see how it works to have that much talent on your team, to have the target on your back all year as one of the best teams in the NBA. This team had gone through some hardships and we’re trying to get over that hump. To go through that journey with them last year and see that all that had to go into it was cool for me and my growth.”

Celtics Notes: Backup Big Men, Springer, Scheierman, Pritchard

October 26th, 2024 at 7:24pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Celtics used some rare double big lineups in Thursday’s victory at Washington, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. With Sam Hauser unavailable due to low back pain, Robb states that Jordan Walsh was expected to play a larger role. Instead, coach Joe Mazzulla opted for size when he went to his bench by playing Luke Kornet alongside Xavier Tillman. Neemias Queta came in next, which meant three of Mazzulla’s first four substitutions were big men.

Their presence limited veteran center Al Horford to 20 minutes and allowed him to spend more time on the perimeter. Having extra size in the game also solidified Boston’s defense after a shaky first quarter.

“I just liked our bigs’ ability to just kind of protect the rim and make multiple efforts and be physical on the offensive end,” Mazzulla said in explaining the move. “The guys did a great job fighting for spacing.”

Hauser is out for a second straight game on Saturday and it’s unclear how long the back issue might keep him sidelined, according to Souichi Terada of MassLive. Hauser told reporters that he dealt with soreness in his back throughout the offseason and training camp.

There’s more from Boston:

Jaden Springer has reportedly emerged as a trade candidate, but the Celtics viewed him as a potential rotation player heading into training camp, Robb adds in another piece. The fourth-year guard had a quiet preseason and didn’t play in two of the team’s final three exhibition games.
Scoring his first NBA points on a layup late in Thursday’s game has been the high point of Baylor Scheierman‘s professional career so far, notes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. After receiving the game ball from his teammates in honor of the achievement, Scheierman talked about the adjustment of having limited playing time after being a star at Creighton. “It’s definitely different coming from college where you play a lot and coming to a team like this that has a lot of established guys,” he said. “But for me, I think it’s just a great opportunity to learn from guys who have made it in this league and obviously signed contracts for a lot of money and have learned at this level. I take it as a learning opportunity, being able to learn from them and grow so that when I get my shot down the line, I’m ready for it.”
Payton Pritchard, who has become famous for his long-range buzzer beaters, would like to see them count extra, Himmelsbach states in a separate story. “I honestly think maybe past half court they should look at adding it as a 4-point play,” Pritchard said. “I mean, it could be interesting. I’ve seen rules overseas that they have a 4-point line.”

And-Ones: Top FAs, Under-The-Radar Players, Extensions, Carter-Williams

October 13th, 2024 at 8:33pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Kyrie Irving ranks as the potential top free agent next summer, according to Frank Urbina and Raul Barrigon of HoopsHype, though there’s no indication he wants to leave Dallas. Irving holds a player option for the 2025/26 season.

Rockets big man Alperen Sengun ranks as the No. 2 free agent, though he’ll be restricted if he doesn’t sign a rookie scale extension this month. At No. 3, Lakers forward LeBron James also has a ’25/26 player option, like Irving.

Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram comes in at No. 4 overall on HoopsHype’s top-25 list and is the top-ranked player who will be fully unrestricted, without the fallback of a player option — unless, of course, he signs a contract with New Orleans prior to free agency.

We have more from around the basketball world:

Which under-the-radar players might make a significant impact this season? The Athletic’s John Hollinger explores a dozen such candidates, including Gradey Dick, Precious Achiuwa and Xavier Tillman.
A number of big-name players could be in line for huge extensions prior to the Oct. 21 deadline for rookie-scale players and veterans with more than one year remaining on their contracts. Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus identifies Kevin Durant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jalen Suggs as a few of the players who could potentially agree to new deals this month.
Retired NBA guard Michael Carter-Williams has become a mental health advocate. The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn details Carter-Williams’ personal struggles and his determination to help others get through their mental health issues.

Atlantic Notes: Barnes, Olynyk, Barrett, Tillman, Celtics Sale, Lowry

October 10th, 2024 at 12:46pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Scottie Barnes and Kelly Olynyk played fewer than 100 minutes together after Olynyk was acquired by the Raptors at the trade deadline. Barnes will make his preseason debut on Friday and anticipates he could be an ideal pick-and-roll partner for the veteran big man, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.

“I think we’ve been working on that a lot. You play with different lines at practices, see how things go,” Barnes said. “Kelly’s great at passing. He can dribble really well for his size and just his vision on the floor. So being able to create those advantages where a (center guarding Olynyk) is used to being in the ball screen, it kind of messes up a team or messes up some rotations, for sure. So just got to try to use that, exploit it at times, and see what works throughout the process, throughout games. If it keeps working, you know, you just keep attacking.”

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Raptors wing RJ Barrett is expected to miss the remainder of the preseason with a shoulder injury. That could thrust Ochai Agbaji into the starting lineup when the season begins, according to Josh Lewenberg of TSN. In a separate note, Lewenberg reports that Immanuel Quickley should be cleared for contact soon. He’s recovering from a thumb injury.
The Celtics seem determined to expand Xavier Tillman‘s offensive game. Tillman has taken five 3-pointers in two preseason games and made three of them. “You never want to put a ceiling on his game, and now that we have him for an entire offseason and season it’s just continuing to grow,” coach Joe Mazzulla told Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe. “So he does a great job of working, but all facets are important for his development.”
The Celtics are up for sale and majority owner Wyc Grousbeck provided Himmelsbach with an update. “The sale process is gearing up and about to hit full speed,” he said. “It took this long for our advisers to go through the financial and business data of the team and our whole management team, and spend enough time to put together offering books. Now they’re beginning to have discussions with interested parties, and the bidding process will commence in the next month or so.”
Sixers coach Nick Nurse believes Kyle Lowry could become an NBA head coach after the veteran guard retires, he told Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I think that he’s got a couple things that I would think would make him a good coach,” Nurse said. “He really loves the game. He really studies the game. He knows the game, and, obviously, he’s got a toughness level, right? I think he could handle going out there to fight.”

Celtics Notes: Walker, Practice Methods, Kornet, Tillman

September 26th, 2024 at 10:31am CST by Dana Gauruder

Lonnie Walker IV made a surprise move when he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Celtics. It was an unconventional decision for a player with 322 regular season NBA games on his résumé, including 58 with the Nets last season.

Walker explains that he had limited options in free agency.

“I wish I had a clear-cut answer for that as to why I didn’t get a guaranteed deal,” Walker said, per Brian Robb of MassLive.com. “But it’s just the way the cards fall. As a man, good, bad or ugly, you got to accept what fate is given and continue to push. I’m not going to stop or put my head down because I’m not given what I expected.”

With 14 guaranteed contracts and a heavy tax burden, the Celtics are unlikely to carry a 15th man to start the season. Walker says if he’s waived and winds up on Boston’s G League team, he’ll handle it professionally.

“(Brad Stevens) also mentioned that there’s a possibility that I might spend some time in the G League with Maine, and honestly, I’m perfectly fine with that,” Walker said. “Because as a man, you’ve got to take it on the chin. You’ve got to continue to work. You have to continue to be prepared and just keep being ready. I think I’m mentally prepared for almost any outcome that may pop up, and I know sooner or later that the worm will turn and that the light’s still at the end of the tunnel.”

We have more on the Celtics:

Nobody could make a basket during the team’s first training camp practice. That was by design. The rims were covered with “bubbles” and the Celtics had to score “points” by other means. “You get your points based on rebounds, turnovers, blocks, steals, everything except putting the ball in the hole essentially,” Sam Hauser told Jay King of The Athletic. “I guess it makes you focus your energy on something other than trying to score, which is probably the (goal). It’s just a different emphasis which is great. But it was interesting for sure.” King details Joe Mazzulla‘s unconventional practice drills.
Luke Kornet re-signed with the Celtics on a one-year deal early in free agency. Kornet wasn’t looking to go elsewhere, he told Robb and other media members. “It’s just been an awesome to be able to play basketball here,” Kornet said. “In terms of every controllable of that side — the leadership, the teammates, just what Boston’s been like for me and my family — I knew that it was an awesome place to come back and stay. And I wanted to be able to do that.”
Xavier Tillman received a two-year deal to stay with the Celtics. Tillman has settled in with the franchise and the city of Boston since joining the team in a deadline-day deal last season, he told Robb. “We’re very, very comfortable,” Tillman said. “At first, when I got here, I didn’t know, because it was finishing up my contract, I didn’t know how it was all gonna pan out for me. But now as far as the city and everything, I feel like I know all the streets, and I know where I’m going. I know about them crazy potholes and stuff like that. Like I’m good now.”
Tillman underwent knee surgery in July but is a full go at camp, Robb reports. “Yeah it was the main reason I was out different periods last year,” Tillman said of the procedure. “My knee would just swell up really bad after a game. But it’s been recovering really well. Like, as far as my range of motion, as far as my strength and stuff like that, and just being able to have a hard day and not have it swell back up. So it’s been progressing really well.” Tillman and Kornet will play key roles while Kristaps Porzingis rehabs from surgery on his left leg.

Celtics Notes: Porzingis, Tillman, Kornet, Tatum, Brown, Horford

September 24th, 2024 at 2:08pm CST by Luke Adams

After undergoing surgery in June to address a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg, Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis was ruled out for the start of the 2024/25 season, with an expectation that he’d be sidelined for at least five or six months. On Tuesday at the team’s media day, he offered an update on his recovery progress, telling reporters – including ESPN’s Tim Bontemps – that he’s “doing pretty good” and has increased his basketball activities ahead of training camp.

“Walking obviously with (no limp),” Porzingis said when asked about what he’s been able to do. “I’m running, I’m on the court, shooting normal. … I’m doing a lot of stuff honestly. I was already kind of with some live contact, doing some stuff and, yeah, it felt really good afterwards.”

Although Porzingis didn’t offer a specific target date or return timeline during his media day session, he recently told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne that he’s aiming to make it back in December if his recovery continues to progress as planned. According to Shelburne, the Celtics are constantly evaluating his progress and will err on the side of caution when it comes to reinserting him into the lineup.

“I don’t know that we’re interested in putting a timeline on him because the injury is unique,” president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said on Tuesday, per Bontemps. “But as far as how he feels and the progress that he’s made, I’d say we’re very, very pleased with where he is, and maybe a little surprised.”

Here’s more on the Celtics:

Porzingis isn’t the only Celtics big man to have undergone surgery this offseason. According to Stevens, Xavier Tillman had a knee scope in July and Luke Kornet underwent a procedure on his wrist right after the season, but both players are recovered and good to go for camp, tweets Jared Weiss of The Athletic.
Star forward Jayson Tatum joked on Tuesday that no one was happier than Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla that Tatum wasn’t named Finals MVP and then was held out of two Olympic games, since both experiences could provide added motivation heading into 2024/25, Weiss writes for The Athletic. Still, Tatum said he didn’t need any extra motivation and that he enjoyed his Olympic experience as a whole despite the “unique circumstance” of being benched for two games.
While Tatum downplayed his Olympic role (or lack thereof) as a source of motivation for the coming season, teammate Al Horford said he “personally was not happy about” Tatum’s sporadic minutes and Jaylen Brown‘s omission from the U.S. roster, according to Shelburne. “Those guys, they’re very special to me. And even though it was nothing against me, it motivated me and all of us for this season,” Horford said. “I know that they handled it well. They’re fine. But when you see those two guys, the amount of work that they’ve put in, the sacrifices they have made. To be on the top of their games and that happened to them, it was hard to watch (the Olympics) and not see them in the position that we would’ve hoped to see them in.” Brown, who expressed his displeasure in the summer after not being named to Team USA, added on Tuesday that he’s “extremely motivated” heading into the 2024/25 season “for obvious reasons.”
As Weiss relays, Tatum told reporters on Tuesday that he has been making some mechanical tweaks to his jump shot this offseason after struggling with it at the Olympics and in the 2024 postseason. “There (are) some things I could’ve fixed (earlier), but just in the midst of the playoffs trying to manage your rest and things like that, it’s a little tougher,” Tatum said. “I was still playing well, just wasn’t shooting the ball as well as I would have liked. And obviously, we were winning, so it wasn’t the time or place to try to fix things in that moment.”

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