Among all the things last year’s Celtics excelled at, one of the most significant was simply getting along.
It may sound cliché, but with a roster as talented as theirs, the willingness to make sacrifices was crucial for reaching their goals. The players fully embraced the team concept, genuinely playing for one another, and that chemistry became the foundation of their success. Ultimately, those sacrifices paid off with a championship.
Chemistry is an intangible that talent alone cannot replace. We’ve seen countless skilled teams in the NBA falter due to a lack of cohesion, but the Celtics were a shining exception. The strong character within the group played a pivotal role in securing the championship and even convinced two of Boston’s unrestricted free agents to return over the offseason.
“I didn’t feel like a fish out of the water when I got here,” Xavier Tillman said, explaining why he wanted to be in Boston. “Jrue, Payton, Neem, Jaden – well, Jaden got traded with me – we were able to gel so quickly. It felt like I had been here for a while. I didn’t have to really, like, introduce myself.”
“It’s just been an awesome place to be able to play basketball. The leadership, the teammates, just what Boston’s been like for me and my family,” Luke Kornet said. “Obviously, we get to contend, and that’s great, but I feel like a greater part of that is the amount of people we have that hold themselves to a high standard and care about each other.”
Baylor Scheierman, Boston’s first-round pick, also highlighted the team’s connection after being drafted.
“I really like the team chemistry that they have,” the rookie said. “It’s a team game, and they understand that. They are always deflecting credit to one another, and that’s how it should be… the team chemistry is something that really stuck out to me.”
Chemistry doesn’t develop overnight—it strengthens over time, through every high and low. And coming off a championship season, the Celtics have the chance to build on what they’ve started, returning 15 of the 17 players from the title-winning roster—a rarity in today’s NBA.
“There’s always a lot of turnaround in teams, and for us, we’re very fortunate to have pretty much all our guys back, and everybody on the same page, and understanding, and ready to go,” Al Horford said.
“We have a group that I feel embodies what being a Celtic is all about, guys, commitment, willingness to the team, to play the right way. We have a group here that gets it, that is going to come into work every day and work really hard, and we were really trying to be the best that we can. So being in that type of environment, you know, it’s motivation.”
Chemistry is often an underrated factor in team building, but it was a priority for Brad Stevens when making roster decisions last season—particularly at the trade deadline—and again this offseason.
“I generally wouldn’t mind a tweak or two just because I think that those things can galvanize you, can give you a jolt, can give you the juice that you need. But I think that these guys are galvanized by each other,” Stevens said. “They have a unique chemistry that I truly believe matters. And they deserve the opportunity to attack this challenge together.”
While talent drove their success, chemistry and the willingness to sacrifice and prioritize the team over individual goals were just as important. This spirit was visible in many ways, from rooting for each other to genuinely enjoying each other’s company.
“I think that we just got a stellar group of guys. We got guys that just have great mentalities, so I don’t think it would be as hard to maintain that consistency. We just got to make sure that we continue to emphasize and hold each other accountable,” Jaylen Brown said. “I’m excited. We’ve got a great group of guys. Great team chemistry. A great locker room. We’ve just got to take it one day at a time and see where we go from there, but it’s been an honor being around some of these guys for X amount of years. I’m looking forward to this journey because of the guys I get to share the locker room with.”
Although the team is returning intact, they’re not exempt from challenges. Each season brings its own set of obstacles, and head coach Joe Mazzulla stressed on Tuesday that the team must remain flexible and ready to adapt.
“At the end of the day, who you are as a team, and the way you play is a reflection of the kind of the character and the talent of the guys,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said. “And that’s kind of what we’re doubling down on because of who they are, how much they compete and how good they are.”
“But there will be time for us to adjust on the fly. We just got to be ready. And there are always internal driving forces that lead to change. And so, we just have to be ready for what those are and accept them.”
Nonetheless, the Celtics laid the groundwork for their success. With a focus on chemistry and a commitment to each other, they’re well-equipped to face the challenges ahead. As they look to defend their title, the bond they’ve created will be crucial in continuing to build on their winning culture.
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