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New Celtics owner Bill Chisholm shares ‘philosophical pillars' on home arena

New Celtics owner Bill Chisholm shares ‘philosophical pillars' on home arena originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

As soon as it was made publicly known that the Boston Celtics were up for sale, most people speculated that the new owner would want to build a new arena for the basketball team. After all, who would want to spend $6.1 billion on a team just to pay rent to the Bruins?

Bill Chisholm, whose investment group won the bid to purchase the team, does not sound like someone who is prioritizing a new home for the C’s.

Speaking with Chris Forsberg on a new episode of the Celtics Talk Podcast, Chisholm shared the “philosophical pillars” that he and the ownership group share toward the home of the Celtics.

TD Garden is special

First and foremost, Chisholm spoke to the special home-court advantage that the Celtics have at TD Garden.

“I love the Boston Garden,” Chisholm said. “There have been banners raised there. That’s a great place for the fans, it’s a great place for the players. And so that’s a really good place to start.”

Some reverence for the home of the Celtics from the new owner.

The Bruins and Celtics ‘belong together’

While many creative minds envisioned a basketball-centric arena being built potentially outside of the city, Chisholm doesn’t seem to share that same vision.

“Second thing I would say is that the Bruins and Celtics belong together,” Chisholm said. “So no matter what happens, that’s a real priority for me.”

Since their first year in 1946, the Celtics have always shared a home building with the Bruins. TD Garden is owned by Delaware North, the company that owns the Bruins.

The Celtics’ current lease runs through 2035-36 after the team signed a 15-year extension in 2021. Getting out of that lease would be an expensive proposition, but it does not appear to be on the to-do list for the new ownership group.

What’s best for the fans

While all owners have personal feelings and desires, Chisholm said he’s open to hearing the will of the fans when it comes to something that plays such a significant role in their experience following the team.

“The most important thing is we’re going to create the best experience for fans that we can, and we’ll figure out what that is. But that’s kind of how I approach it,” Chisholm said. “We’ll go into it with an open mind, but I think that’s the starting point, those three things.”

Watch Chisholm’s full interview with Forsberg on Celtics Talk:

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Flyers Make 10 More Roster Cuts, Including A Surprise

(Photo: Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers have announced 10 further cuts to their training camp roster ahead of Thursday night's preseason game against the Washington Capitals, but some names were more surprising than others.

Generally speaking, the AHL players who were cut were, by all accounts, expected to be next on the chopping block, with many not even appearing in a preseason game.

Forwards Sawyer Boulton, Cooper Marody, Garrett Wilson, and Zayde Wisdom were all cut Thursday, alongside goalies Keith Petruzzelli and and Yaniv Perets.

Oscar Eklind, who was signed as a free agent ahead of last season, was placed on waivers with the intention of being assigned to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Then came the surprises, although it's a relative term.

Ex-Flyers Goalie Quietly Dominating NHL PreseasonEx-Flyers Goalie Quietly Dominating NHL PreseasonIt may only be two games of NHL preseason action, but this former Philadelphia Flyers goalie has been dominant in limited ice time.

Forward prospects Samu Tuomaala, Tucker Robertson (acquired in the J.R. Avon trade), and Massimo Rizzo were all included in this set of roster cuts, and Tuomaala was the only one who managed to appear in a preseason game.

The 22-year-old played in Sunday night's 3-2 shootout win over the New York Islanders, recording one shot on goal in 13:13 of ice time and missing his shootout attempt.

Tuomaala's early exclusion, along with the others, is a surprise in the sense that he is fairly experienced at the professional level and hardly had a chance to make an impression in the preseason.

But, on that note, sometimes the question reveals more than the answer, and Tuomaala's lack of an impression is the impression in itself.

Flyers Stock Up, Stock Down Heading into Training Camp Week 2Flyers Stock Up, Stock Down Heading into Training Camp Week 2Heading into the second week of Philadelphia Flyers training camp, a number of key players have boosted their stocks and chances of making the NHL roster. Others? Not so much.

Fortunately, the Finn isn't exposed to waivers and will remain in the Flyers organization, but it just got that much harder to envision him playing any sort of role for the Flyers in the future.

The fact that players like Devin Kaplan and Alexis Gendron lasted longer in training camp than Tuomaala says a lot about his prospects of an NHL future in Philadelphia.

As for Robertson and Rizzo, those players are/were more upside dart-throws than anything, but they are clearly on the outside looking in at this point and may end up career AHLers in the absence of meaningful preseason action.

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Zack Minasian reveals Giants' long-term Bryce Eldridge plans

Zack Minasian reveals Giants' long-term Bryce Eldridge plans originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Bryce Eldridge’s September call-up created excitement in the final chapter of another disappointing Giants campaign, but will the young slugger be featured in San Francisco’s plans for the 2026 MLB season?

Giants general manager Zack Minasian revealed that nothing is set in stone in regards to Eldridge, with San Francisco’s top prospect’s placement next season largely being dependent on how the roster shapes up around him.

“I don’t think there’s any guarantee,” Miniasian told Brian Murphy and Markus Boucher on KNBR’s “Murph & Markus.” “As we go into next year it will be about what is available. I think his role as things have evolved here over the past week, he has gotten some first base, he has DH’d, he gets [Rafael Devers] off his feet. I think long term, that’s probably what we envision as far as those two being able to split time.”

While Eldridge’s traditional box score stats since joining the Giants don’t jump off the screen, the 20-year-old slugger still has made quite an impression on Minasian and the front office. Minasian highlighted Eldridge’s glove, exit velocity and patience at the plate as reasons for optimism that the highly touted prospect can blossom into an elite MLB player as he continues to develop.

“It’s been encouraging to see Bryce’s defense. He made a nice play [Wednesday], had the big diving catch on the line drive in LA,” Minsasian said. “He’s seeing the ball well, he’s not chasing, he’s hitting it hard. Those are things that usually — it’s not just hard hit, it’s up there at the very top. When you put those things together it really is a nice foundation for a really good offensive player.”

Minasian and the Giants are keen on more than just the player on the field, as Eldridge’s personality and mindset have also won over the hearts of San Francisco’s front office.

“The other thing is too, we’re excited about the person,” Minasian said. “He’s cogniscent of his surroundings, he wants to be the best player he can be. Just a super respectful young man and works really hard. The intangibles are there as well as the skills and tools.”

Eldridge is slashing .125/.300/.208 in 24 at-bats since being called up by the Giants on Sept. 14, but has reached base five times via the walk in that span, a testament to the plate discipling he possesses already at the age of 20.

It’s important to note that Eldridge’s rapid ascencion saw him promoted twice this season, after starting the 2025 campaign with the Giants’ Double-A affiliate Richmond Flying Squirrels. The time for adjusting to new surroundings must be accounted for, which seemingly is why Minasian and the Giants are more focused on what they’re seeing with the eye test rather than deferring to Eldridge’s box score stats.

Whether or not we see Eldridge start the 2026 season with the big league club remains to be seen, but there certainly appears to be reason for optimism the towering slugger will be there when the Giants open the MLB slate against the New York Yankees next march.

Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast

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What Can Martin St-Louis' Canadiens Do For An Encore?

It is a measure of his astonishing NHL playing career that Hockey Hall of Famer Martin St-Louis will never be able to top his on-ice feats, including winning a Stanley Cup championship with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2014.

But in three-and-a-half years coaching the Montreal Canadiens, St-Louis has delivered some phenomenal results, including an unlikely playoff berth last year.

So the question arises – what in heaven’s sake does St-Louis do for an encore?

He’s done as well as just about anyone could as the Canadiens continue their rebuild from the foundations, but St-Louis has raised the competitive bar for his team as they head into the 2025-26 regular season.

Without a doubt, it would be devastating for the Canadiens if they slipped a bit and missed out on a post-season berth this year. BetMGM gave the Canadiens better odds of making the playoffs (1.80, -125) than missing out (2.00, +100), after all.

But everybody knows that progress isn’t always linear. Sometimes a backward step or lateral move is what's necessary to create a team that can handle adversity and thrive in the face of it. That may wind up being true for St-Louis and this generation of Canadiens players, but not if they can help it.

Last year at this time, the expectations on Montreal was that it should be aiming for some sort of step forward. In fact, on Nov. 4, 2024, the Habs were tied for the fewest points in the NHL, and it looked like they were making no progress at all under St-Louis.

Few pundits had the Habs as a playoff team, so St-Louis more than earned his salary when he steered them to a first-round playoff appearance.

Martin St-Louis and Alex Ovechkin (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

But here’s where the increased expectations come in for this season: a playoff appearance and another quick exit – like the one the Canadiens had last spring at the hands of the Washington Capitals – will not be seen as a positive for Montreal. To be sure, nothing short of a first-round win will be seen as progress for the Habs this year. And at a point in time where NHL coaches are fired on an alarmingly-regular basis, St-Louis can only assure himself of job security if he has some tangible type of progress to show for it. 

What can St-Louis do for an encore? Well, a first-round series win would be another terrific achievement for him. Or a seven-game series loss in the first round would be understandable if, say, the Canadiens lost the deciding game in a close matchup.

The bottom line would be the same – the Habs don’t yet have a team that can win home-ice advantage in the highly competitive Atlantic Division – but making them tougher in every regard would be something St-Louis could point to as an indication he’s got the Canadiens on the right path.

Montreal Canadiens' Choice For Their Second-Line Center Raises DoubtsMontreal Canadiens' Choice For Their Second-Line Center Raises DoubtsThe Montreal Canadiens had a game-changing off-season.

The rest of the Atlantic – and the NHL – won’t hand the Habs a playoff spot this year or any year. Montreal is going to have to earn that. But under St-Louis' guidance, the Canadiens overachieved last season, and making the playoffs is now the expectation, not a pleasant surprise. There’s no evidence to declare they can’t do it again. 

If they actually do it again and then win a round, St-Louis’ impact on the Habs will be all the more impressive.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Knicks' Mitchell Robinson ate healthier this offseason — by starting his own farm

And on that farm he had some… buckets?

As Knicks center Mitchell Robinson prepared this offseason for what will be his eighth NBA season, he didn’t just work on his hoops game.

He also worked on his coops game.

In an effort to eat healthier and drop some weight, the 27-year-old Robinson made an effort to eat healthier by learning the art of farming in Nashville.

“I started my own farm, so all of my stuff is legit fresh, organic, stuff like that, so kind of moving forward with that,” Robinson said. “Chickens, all kinds of stuff.”

Asked how he learned to farm, Robinson replied: ‘You gotta know people, they’ll teach you a lot.”

Farmer Robinson acknowledged that he did lose weight this offseason, saying he’s around the same weight he was last season, which he says is the right range for him to play at his best.

And that should go hand-in-hand with playing under new head coach Mike Brown, who likes to push the pace at a much faster rate than previous head coach Tom Thibodeau.

“I’m excited to play for him,” Robinson said of Brown. “I’ve been here going on eight years now, third coach. Just get in there and give the same energy I gave the other coaches. Hard work and keep it moving.”

“A lot of conditioning, getting up and down the court,” he later added about Brown’s coaching style. “Putting in a lot of new things that I’ve never seen before. It’s going to be a process, but I’m all for it.”

While injuries limited Robinson to just 17 regular season games last year, he made a big impact in the postseason, playing 18 playoff games and eventually moving into the starting lineup.

Robinson said he doesn’t care whether he starts or comes off the bench this season, and that he’s ready to adjust to playing with whomever he’s on the floor with.

“Same approach as last year,” Robinson said. “We had a lot of success last season, so we just come in with that mindset and see how [Brown] likes us to play and adjust to that.”

Robinson has established himself as one of the best offensive rebounders in the NBA, and his relentlessness on the glass makes him a huge asset for a Knicks team in search of an NBA championship.

And while it sounds like Robinson is ready to cook on the floor, don’t expect him to do much cooking in the kitchen.

“No,” Robinson replied when asked if he cooks the food his farm provides.

“Hell no.”

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Why William Nylander Missed Practice With Maple Leafs' Non-Playing Group

When the Toronto Maple Leafs' non-playing group stepped onto the ice for practice on Thursday, William Nylander wasn't out there.

He's the latest player to miss a skate during camp. Already, Toronto has had Max Domi, Nicolas Roy, and Simon Benoit held off the ice at one point during camp. However, when asked about Nylander after practice, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube poured cold water on whatever's going on with the forward.

"Just maintenance," the head coach said. "Camp kind of stuff. Get a little banged up, but he's fine."

We'll find out on Friday morning if there's anything to worry about. Nylander has been fairly healthy over the course of his NHL career. The 29-year-old has played three straight 82-game seasons and hasn't been out of the lineup — aside from the 2024 playoffs — since April 4, 2022, against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Nylander began camp alongside his usual center, John Tavares, and Bobby McMann, who has played on the line before. With McMann headed to Montreal to play against the Canadiens later on Thursday, Tavares skated with Nick Robertson and Calle Jarnkrok on his wings at practice.

Max Domi and Nicolas Roy skated with the non-playing group on Thursday. After dealing with injuries (both lower-body ailments) early on in camp, Domi may get into Saturday's game at home against Montreal. He skated with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies at practice.

"I mean, there's a chance [he could play]. I don't know for sure right now," Berube said. "But he could possibly."

Maple Leafs Lineup For Pre-Season Matchup Against Canadiens Revealed And Where To WatchMaple Leafs Lineup For Pre-Season Matchup Against Canadiens Revealed And Where To WatchThe Toronto Maple Leafs will visit the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Thursday as they drop the puck on their third pre-season game.

The only other injured player is Simon Benoit. The defenseman hasn't skated with the team since Sept. 19 and is dealing with an upper-body injury. Benoit skated before the two groups on Wednesday, but didn't get on the ice on Thursday.

"That was the plan," Berube said. "He'll be on the ice tomorrow."

Benoit was paired with Oliver Ekman-Larsson on the first day of training camp after the two were a duo for most of last season. Benoit played 78 games last year, scoring one goal and nine assists while averaging 16:33 of ice time.

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‘He's Probably Never Going To Make It’: Michael Pezzetta Returns to Montreal, Shares Favorite Pre-Season Maple Leafs–Canadiens Memory

Michael Pezzetta’s journey to the NHL has been a long one, yet he recalls a special pre-season night that marked his breakthrough.

Five years after the Montreal Canadiens drafted him in the sixth round (160th overall) in the NHL Draft, Pezzetta finally got his pre-season opportunity against his hometown team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scored twice—including an empty-netter—in a 5-4 victory on September 27, 2021.

“I just remember how cool that was, and I remember them talking about it on the panel on television, being like, ‘It's a cool experience for this kid, but he's probably never going to make it. It was a cool experience for him to get those two goals,’” Pezzetta recalled. “I ended up making it later that year, so I just remember that. It was funny."

Pezzetta has since played in 200 NHL games. This summer, the Maple Leafs signed Pezzetta to a two-year deal worth an average annual value of $812,500.

On Thursday, he will wear the Maple Leafs uniform for the first time.

Even though it’s just a pre-season game, Pezzetta is excited about the opportunity to return to the Bell Centre.

“It's always a game that if you can't get up to that game, there's probably something wrong with you because they're exciting,” Pezzetta said. “They're usually on a Saturday night. It gets going. They're just a lot of fun to be a part of, and I think it's something special, and I think it's something I'm so grateful that I've had to experience it.”

Pezzetta is a long shot to make the Leafs’ roster and will probably start this season with the Toronto Marlies. But anything can happen. Even though his two-goal pre-season performance in 2021 was dismissed, the forward went on to play 51 games with the Canadiens in 2021–22. Depending on what the Leafs need as injuries and personnel shifts arise, Pezzetta could be called upon at some point.

And if he has another memorable outing in Montreal, he'll probably get the panel talking about him again.

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How Scott Laughton And Steven Lorentz's Strong Relationship Can Bring The Best Out Of The Maple Leafs’ Fourth Line

Maple Leafs Lineup For Pre-Season Matchup Against Canadiens Revealed And Where To Watch

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Canucks Goaltender Nikita Tolopilo On Returning To The Altered Abbotsford Crease As Defending Calder Cup Champions

Three months after the Abbotsford Canucks won the Calder Cup, the team is gearing up to defend their title for the first time in franchise history. Also, for the first time in franchise history, goaltender Arturs Silvos won’t be on the roster. The Calder Cup MVP netminder was traded this offseason to the Pittsburgh Penguins due to salary cap constraints and limited roster spots for Vancouver’s flurry of goaltenders.

All eyes now look to Nikita Tolopilo, the six-foot-six, 229-pound Belarusian undrafted goaltender the Canucks acquired in free agency two years prior. Tolopilo has played in the majority of games over the last two seasons for Abbotsford, participating in 35 games in his rookie 2023–24 campaign (one more than Silovs played that year), and being the only Canucks goaltender to play in over 25 games last season. Over the two seasons, he has a 40-27-3 record, with a 0.903% save percentage, and a 2.74 goals against average.

Having spent the majority of his professional North American career in tandem with Silovs, Tolopilo now steps into a new role as a bona fide veteran starter for the Canucks in net, as the 25-year-old will likely be sharing the crease with Ty Young. Young played in 11 games last season for Abbotsford, posting an 8-3 record, though he spent most of the season playing with Kalamazoo in the ECHL. 

Despite these big changes in the crease, Tolopilo is unperturbed by the year that lies ahead, telling The Hockey News that the dynamic shift isn’t on his mind. 

“I don't really think about that, because every year is different. So [I] just try to focus on myself. Focus on my thing. What should I do to win more games, to help my team win more games? And kind of, you know, do [the] best I can.”

To end the AHL regular season, Tolopilo had an eight-game win streak, along with a two-game appearance in the NHL with Vancouver. In his first NHL start, he earned a 2–1 win in overtime against the San Jose Sharks, as well as a loss after coming in relief of Kevin Lankinen in the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights two days later.

Tolopilo also made one appearance in the Abbotsford Calder Cup run, coming in during the second period of game two in the division semifinals against the Coachella Valley Thunderbirds, where he allowed two goals on 23 shots in the eventual 5–4 overtime loss. 

Headed into the next season as defending champions is placing the spotlight on Abbotsford, especially without the goaltender who arguably brought them that trophy. Tolopilo, though, remains optimistic about what lies in store for the upcoming season, ready for “new challenges” to arise. After what he deemed a “short summer,” Tolopilo returned to training camp in Penticton, still working towards improvements in his game. 

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“It's like a lot of small things, you know, like you try to clean up some area where you [are] not that good. And also work on the good things, you know, try to get even better. And of course, to be in good shape and feel good,” he explained to The Hockey News.

“I feel confident [in] myself like this [is] my third year here in North America, so I wanted to take another step forward, you know, in my development, in my career. I have some goals in my head, but, you know, it's just more for myself.”

Returning under the tutelage of Abbotsford head coach Manny Malhotra and goaltending coach Justin Pogge is another source of motivation for the towering Belarusian. 

“They’re excellent people. They’re super professional. Like, we won the Calder Cup in our first year with them. [...] I like to work with them, with everyone.”

Tolopilo also enters the first year of the two-year contract he signed with the Canucks in early July, which carries a $775k NHL cap hit until the end of the 2026-27 season, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The contract is also a two-way deal, and it is likely that in the case of either Thatcher Demko or Kevin Lankinen being unable to play, Tolopilo will have to venture westbound on Highway 1 to join the team in Vancouver as the third-string option. 

The Canucks had seven goalies on their roster heading into training camp, now down to six at the time of writing, as 2025 second-round pick Aleksei Medvedev has returned to the London Knights of the OHL. Along with Tolopilo, Young, Demko, and Lankinen, the Canucks also have Jiri Patera on contract for another season, though he only played in seven games for Abbotsford last year, and 2021 fifth-round pick Aku Koskenvuo, who played most recently with Harvard University in the NCAA, and signed a two-year, entry-level contract back in March.

With under a month until the Canucks grace the Abbotsford ice once again, Nikita Tolopilo is looking to replicate the success from last season through this year and beyond — no matter what changes the 2025–26 AHL season has in store for the defending champions.

Apr 14, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) makes a save against the San Jose Sharks in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Livingston v Rangers: Pick of the stats

Livingston v Rangers: Pick of the stats
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  • Livingston are winless in their past 21 meetings with Rangers in all competitions (D2 L19) since a 1-0 league victory in September 2018. The Lions have scored just four goals in these last 21 clashes.
  • Rangers have won nine of their past 10 away games at Livingston in all competitions (D1), including their latest six in a row.
  • Livingston have lost three of their past four league games (D1), conceding 2+ goals in each of those defeats – including a 2-1 loss to Hearts in their last home match in the Scottish Premiership.
  • Rangers are winless in six league games (D5 L1), the joint-longest run in their entire history (level with six other runs of six, most recently in December 2005). The Ibrox side have also failed to win any of their opening five matches of a league campaign for only the second time, after 1978-79 (first six).
  • Rangers have the lowest xG per shot rate of any side in the Scottish Premiership so far this season (0.08), with their 66 shots resulting in an xG total of 5.6.
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Quentin Grimes, 76ers negotiating new contract but remain far apart on longer deal

Quentin Grimes and the Philadelphia 76ers would both love to work out a four-year contract that would lock in the 25-year-old guard who was one of the few bright spots for the team after the trade deadline. The problem is that the sides view the money side of the deal very differently.

Which means Grimes could end up taking the $8.7 million qualifying offer and becoming a free agent next summer. The sides are talking, but that doesn't mean they are close to a deal, reports Tony Jones of The Athletic.

Grimes has two offers on the table, according to sources. One is the qualifying offer, which is worth one year and $8.7 million. The other is a one-year balloon payment, which is designed for Grimes to waive the no-trade clause that would be attached to him accepting the qualifying offer.

The 76ers, league sources say, want to work out a long-term, four-year deal with Grimes, which is something that Grimes would actually be amenable to. The issue is what the money would be, and right now, the two sides are far apart on that.

Grimes reportedly was seeking something in the $20 million a season range from Philly, which wanted something less, considering it is currently just $1.7 million below the luxury tax line and may not want to cross that threshold without a sign this team can stay healthy and live up to its potential.

In 28 games with Philly last season, Grimes averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists a game. 76ers fans were dreaming of a guard rotation featuring Tyrese Maxey, Grimes, a healthy Jared McCain and just-drafted VJ Edgecombe. The problem is that you have to pay all those guys, and right now, the Sixers have Joel Embiid and Paul George making more than $50 million each, Maxey making $38 million, and in a couple of years, McCain and Edgecombe will be up for extensions.

Grimes has made a total of $11.1 million across four NBA seasons. This is a big opportunity to more than double his career earnings in one season. That is hard to walk away from, but it feels like this negotiation could go down to the Oct. 1 deadline when Grimes has to take the qualifying offer (as Cam Thomas has done in a similar situation), or sign something else.

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C's owner Bill Chisholm details on-brand first encounter with Mazzulla

C's owner Bill Chisholm details on-brand first encounter with Mazzulla originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It took Bill Chisholm less than a week to be introduced to the Joe Mazzulla Experience.

An investor group led by Chisholm first agreed to purchase the Boston Celtics on March 20. Four days later, Chisholm and his wife Kimberly paid a visit to Golden 1 Center in Sacramento to watch the Celtics take on the Kings.

That’s where Chisholm first met Mazzulla — who lived up to his reputation as being incredibly locked in at all times.

Chisholm detailed his first meeting with Chisholm during an exclusive interview with Celtics Insider Chris Forsberg on the Celtics Talk Podcast.

“So, Joe is very intense, obviously — which I love, by the way,” Chisholm said. “The first time I met him was out in Sacramento. I was sitting courtside; the owner of the Kings had invited me to go, so I went, and I wasn’t wearing Celtics gear, and I wasn’t really cheering. I was trying to be polite; it’s their building and everything.

“And after the game, I see Joe across the court — I had never met him; we had never spoken — he makes eye contact with me and he comes straight, beeline to me. I’m like, ‘Oh gosh, here we go.’ And, he comes over, he puts his hand out, and he says, ‘Thirty freaking arenas and all you hear is, ‘Let’s go Celtics.’ I love it!’ And he shakes (my hand) one more time and walks away. And that was it.”

So, yeah. Mazzulla doesn’t change who he is for anybody — not even for the person who just purchased the team he coaches for $6.1 billion.

For his part, Chisholm loved his brief encounter with Mazzulla, who oversaw Boston’s 113-95 rout of the Kings that night.

“That kind of intensity — he was pumped up, it was a good game, and I just love that intensity he has,” Chisholm said.

Mazzulla is about to face his most difficult challenge yet with a Celtics roster that lost Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet this offseason and will be without superstar Jayson Tatum for most or all of the season as he recovers from Achilles surgery. But the C’s signed Mazzulla to a multi-year contract extension in August, so it’s clear the entire franchise supports its head coach.

Check out Chisholm’s full interview with Chris Forsberg on the Celtics Talk Podcast:

  • Chisholm discusses how his dream of becoming the owner of the Celtics became a reality.
  • Who are some of Bill’s favorite Celtics players of all time?
  • How the investment group came together to buy the Celtics.
  • What are the goals of the new ownership group?
  • Will the Celtics look for their own arena?
  • What excited you most about this year’s team?
  • Best interaction with Joe Mazzulla so far.