James doesn't want ‘instant oatmeal' as he starts his Sixers chapter  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The four-time NBA champion, four-time MVP and man of many nicknames settled in Monday morning for his opening Sixers press conference. He picked up the customary name card at the podium and removed it.

“You guys know who I am, right?” LeBron James asked with a smile. 

Indeed, no one in the room had any confusion about James’ identity and illustrious résumé.

The more interesting matter was his new reality as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. James signed a minimum-salary deal this summer because he believes the Sixers can contend for a title. 

“We all want to put the work in,” he said. “That’s the most important. Guys can go around talking and saying these things should happen, but nothing will happen unless you actually put the work in. We’re all speaking the same language. It’s going to start every single day, just getting one percent better every single day starting tomorrow (at training camp). Everyone’s excited to be here and that’s exciting to be a part of.”

On paper, James should add world-class passing, late-game problem-solving and all sorts of intriguing options for head coach Nick Nurse. 

He saw no need to go into much detail about his role at media day.

“Whatever the team needs me to do,” James said. “I think the luxury of my game is I can do everything. Literally, I can do everything.”

When the Sixers’ postseason ended last year with a 30-point Game 4 loss to the Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena, no one expected to welcome both James and Jaylen Brown as teammates over the summer. 

Even for Tyrese Maxey, who’s worked out with James for years, grown close with the 22-time All-Star and pitched the Sixers in free agency, the shock hasn’t fully dissipated. 

“I think now it’s just really, really weird,” Maxey said. “I see him in the summertime every year, but to see him here in Camden, New Jersey at the facility with a Sixers jersey on, it’s cool. It’s a cool experience.” 

Tongue in cheek, Joel Embiid downplayed his role in James’ decision.

“As far as Bron, I didn’t talk to him. I didn’t recruit him,” Embiid said. 

He eventually cracked and let out a laugh. 

James described Embiid as “one of the most talented guys that we have in the world.” There’s no doubt he sees plenty of championship ingredients in Philadelphia.

He also has no expectation that wins will appear with a snap of the fingers. James was the first of many Sixers to stress sacrifice. 

“Sometimes in sports, people hear ‘sacrifice’ and automatically, people start thinking (negatively) about it,” he said. “It’s not a negative thing. You can sacrifice one or two more shots that gives you one or two more bursts of energy in the fourth quarter to slide over and take a charge. Or it gives you one or two more bursts of energy to get an offensive rebound. … Or an extra two bursts of energy to run back on defense and get a chase-down block. Some things that don’t show up in the box scores. So it’s not a negative when people say, ‘OK, you have to make a sacrifice or your role may change.’ 

“If we’re trying to do something special, which I believe we are, then it’s a positive. So many guys that have been in our league over the course of my career have never made a sacrifice … and they average 20 points, 22 points a game. And they’ve had one or two postseason appearances and zero postseason wins. If that’s the way you want your career to be, then that’s fine. Everyone has different goals. But I don’t think anybody in the locker room has that feeling and wants their career to be like that, or we wouldn’t be here.”

To James, big names alone are insufficient. 

“I think the best way to expedite it is obviously the floor, the practice court,” he said. “That helps. The film sessions help. The bus rides, the plane rides, the camaraderie, those things help. It’s going to take time. I think people, sometimes they don’t really want to work and everyone wants instant oatmeal. You just put the oatmeal in the bowl, you put the water in, you throw it in the microwave, and in a minute and a half, you’ve got something to eat. You’re ready to go. 

“If you want to do something special, it takes time and it takes every single day doing things that you may not want to do. It’s the same thing over and over and over. … You have to fall in love with doing things that are uncomfortable. And if we can do that, then we can be a great team. 

“If we don’t do that, then we’ll be like, ‘Oh man, that was a great team on paper and we had a lot of great talent … and we lost in the second round.’ I don’t want to do that. I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round. I know that for sure. So work needs to be done and I’m ready to put the work in.”

Josh Hart didn’t sugarcoat a thing.

During the Knicks’ media day on Monday, the 2026 NBA champion shared his thoughts on Jalen Brunson’s “Saturday Night Live” debut over the weekend.

“I think his performance was fine. I don’t think he has a future in acting,” Hart said with a bit of a smirk, which drew laughs within the press conference room.

Brunson, the NBA Finals MVP, became the first Knick to ever host the historic sketch comedy show on Saturday to kick off the show’s 52nd season. Hart was in attendence for Brunson’s big moment alongside fellow Knicks starters Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.

“I don’t think he has a future in acting.”

Josh Hart on Jalen Brunson’s SNL performance. : NBC/SNL pic.twitter.com/j4rDny8doP

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) September 28, 2026

During Brunson’s monologue, each of the Knicks had their own shining moment.

The three-time All-Star called on each of his teammates for a question. Hart used his camera time to comment that he is a fan of Brunson’s podcast, “The Roommates Show,” which the two co-host together and he asked if his captain took a $113 million pay cut in July 2024.

“Is that money still up for grabs?” Hart asked.

The two went on to throw jabs at each other, including Hart’s viral goosing of Brunson during the team’s NBA Cup triumph.

Hart and his wife Shannon were later seen on their way to the “SNL” after-party at the Crane Club in New York.

Brunson also invited up Stephen A. Smith played by Kenan Thompson up to the stage, showcasing him as one of his doubters on his way to an NBA title.

The Knicks beat the Spurs in five games to soldifiy their first NBA title in 53 years. The hysteria over the feat took over New York in June and has continued through the offseason, prompting a hosting gig for Brunson.

The Knicks are set to return to the Garden on Oct. 20 to tip off the 2026-27 season against the 76ers.

During a question for Brad Stevens to open up the Celtics’ 2026-27 media day, the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn was searching for a specific word. 

It’s a term Stevens used often during the first press conference following the Jaylen Brown-Paul George trade, quickly becoming a buzzword moving forward that you may or may not be sick of hearing. 

Optionality. 

Washburn called it a “Brad Word.”

“That’s a Brad word. Sweet,” Stevens said with a smile and a hint of sarcasm. 

New 'Brad Word' unlocked😂@GwashburnGlobe asks Brad Stevens about balancing 'optionality' between winning now vs. planning for the future:

"There are hard decisions that have to come along the way. Whether they're right or wrong, we'll see."
–@CLNSMediapic.twitter.com/LUxdTxc6Q1

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) September 28, 2026

Now, it’s a word to describe the Celtics entering the new season, who have spent the summer creating financial flexibility while adding piece after piece to build a team that can both sustain success through an entire regular season and win at the highest levels of the postseason. 

For the 2026-27 Celtics, depth is king. 

“The balance right now is that you do have to have that depth piece to be good,” Stevens said. “The way that the game is played, how much ground you have to cover, how versatile you have to be up and down your roster is really important.” 

Stevens related the need for a deep team to his days coaching at Butler, where a roster’s talent at the top could make up for a lack of depth on the back end. 

“I think most coaches would tell you, especially when I was in college, it’d be like, I’m good with seven or eight guys, and we can figure out how to navigate it with the rest, but that’s just not the way you can win in this league, so I’m really interested to see how the depth is utilized as an advantage,” Stevens said. 

The 82-game endurance test underscores a need for playable talent outside of the core rotation. Just 18 of 582 players contributed in all 82 games last season, making iron men, especially star-caliber iron men, a rarity. 

The teams that can adjust on the fly and put together a productive rotation regardless of that night’s injury report are the ones that’ll see the most positive results in the conference standings. The Celtics, who last year had 10 five-man regular season lineups generate 50+ minutes, are well accustomed to molding into a new look on a night-to-night basis. 

“The one thing I know about Joe, and one thing I know about our players, is that they all know that their opportunities will be plentiful, and if they’re not coming today, they’re coming down the road just because that’s the way this works,” Stevens said. 

Throughout the 2025-26 season, Joe Mazzulla showed no fear changing up his starting five, right down to the last game of the season, when he inserted Ron Harper Jr., Baylor Scheierman and Luka Garza into their Game 7 lineup against the 76ers after Jayson Tatum was announced as inactive. 

Speaking on the changes to the team’s philosophy since their roster shakeup, Mazzulla doesn’t have an answer yet as to how things will look. It’s a constantly evolving answer that will take time to figure out. 

“How can we take advantage of the strengths and the talent that we have? How can we take advantage of the offseason and the work that the guys have put in to become better players, and turn that into an offensive and defensive philosophy? I don’t know that I have that answer on day one. I think your team naturally grows, and you’re always learning about your team,” Mazzulla said. 

One question posed to Jayson Tatum asked if he considered it “his team” this year. It’s not a simple question to answer, according to Tatum, who will undoubtedly be the central figure on the floor tasked with handling the acclaim and scrutiny that comes with a six-month regular season.

Joe Mazzulla on the leadership role Jayson Tatum is going to have this season:

If you take a 30,000 foot view on just his career he's accomplished a lot he's been through a lot of experiences you know you know that phase of his career you know being coached by Brad and coming in… pic.twitter.com/GAI05S5H4r

— Ian Inangelo (@iinangelo) September 28, 2026

“We don’t have the same roles, we all bring something different on a daily basis to make the group better,” Tatum said. “It’s not just saying it’s my team, I’ve got 14 other teammates that I’m going to lean on, and we all need each other to be better every single day.” 

Whether it’s a new face from the draft or free agency, a player working on a two-way contract, or a Boston mainstay you’ve seen countless times before, the Celtics will have up to 18 players in green on opening night. It’s best to be prepared for any one of them to check in with a chance to make a difference. 

Since the Boston Celtics added Paul George to the roster, there have been concerns about his ability to stay healthy. After all, this is a player who suited up for 78 regular-season games over two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers. We’re all basketball fans here, so let me put that in percentages: in George’s two seasons with the Sixers, he played in 47.6% of their regular-season games.

Fortunately for the Celtics, wing depth is not an area of need. In fact, it’s the one area where Joe Mazzulla has an abundance of talent to call upon. So, should George be forced to miss time, either due to injury or minutes management, there’ll be numerous young wings waiting to make the most of any additional opportunity.

Hugo Gonzalez will likely be at the front of that line. Heading into his sophomore NBA season, Gonzalez will undoubtedly look to continue his development, earning a larger share of the rotation minutes as a result. As we saw in Summer League, the Celtics clearly have a plan for the young forward, and that plan will likely involve him improving as both an on-ball creator and perimeter threat.

There’s no doubt that Gonzalez can improve away from the spotlight of the NBA floor. Yet the best path forward is usually the one that involves honing your talents against other NBA-level players. Gonzalez clearly understands this concept, as he’s spent all summer working toward playing 30 minutes per night at the highest level, even though he knows that such a significant role is unlikely in the upcoming season.

“I just think that you just need to be prepared,” Gonzalez said when speaking at the Celtics Media Day on Monday, Sept. 28. “Like, if you’re gonna play 30 minutes every night, even though you might not, you need to be prepared for it. So, the night that it comes, you’re just ready for it.”

Gonzalez isn’t the only wing in Mazzulla’s rotation who will look to take advantage of any additional minutes that become available on an ad hoc basis. He is, however, the highest-ceiling talent who can slot into multiple wing positions. Therefore, it’s logical that he’s preparing for such a high-minutes event. Still, that doesn’t mean he’s hoping to benefit from someone else’s struggles.

“I hope PG is available for 82 games,” Gonzalez noted. “We’re trying to build something as a team, not thinking about who’s going to play and when … you just need to be prepared for it so the night that it comes, you’re ready for it.”

The truth is, if George is out of the rotation — for whatever reason — Gonzalez is the most logical stand-in. His defense and effort will ensure Boston’s rearguard doesn’t nosedive, while his (albeit under-construction) tertiary playmaking/shot creation can be serviceable in the right matchups.

George isn’t the only wing Gonzalez could stand in for, though. Jayson Tatum could find himself having his minutes managed at points in the season. There’s a legitimate chance Boston splits back-to-backs, with George sitting one side and Tatum the other. On those nights, Gonzalez — and likely others — would see their minutes naturally increase.

Brad Stevens is constructing a roster full of workaholics. There are a number of high-motor, high-effort young players on the roster this season. Should George, Tatum, or any other veteran need to miss time, there will be someone waiting to get on the court and seize a chance to prove themselves, and honestly? When you have a team with multiple injury concerns, there’s no better way of hedging your bets.

The New York Knicks were back in the spotlight Monday morning during Media Day.

Everybody sat at the desk and discussed this and that the other thing, so I had plenty to go through for a first gathering of quotes before I dig deeper to offer more comprehensive bulletins in the next few days.

For now, here’s a bunch of what was said during Monday’s Media Day.

"Regardless of what we accomplished, moving forward, our standard and how we approach our process is going to be really critical for us. We can't afford to have any slippage in our process."

– Mike Brown's opening statement on media day pic.twitter.com/p74aIUjNgj

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) September 28, 2026

Mike Brown

On turning the page from last season’s championship:

“What we accomplished was amazing…. Keeping your core is always something that’s exciting, especially when that core has had success… but we have to understand this is a new season, new team, and we’re going to face new challenges over the course of the year. We’re going to hit adversity… and we’re going to embrace it.”

On maintaining the Knicks’ standards after winning the championship:

“Regardless of what we accomplished, moving forward, our standard and how we approach our process is going to be really critical for us. We can’t afford to have any slippage in our process.”

On embracing adversity early in the season:

“A lot of people tend to shy away from adversity, especially early on because you get scrutinized. I actually yearn for it. I yearn for it early because I want to make sure we as a group can handle it.”

On experiencing New York’s reaction to the Knicks’ championship:

“My wife and I walked into the Polo Bar, and I was at the bottom of the steps, and everyone clapped.”

On the Knicks’ contract-extension situations:

“We try to talk about everything. We don’t want to leave elephants in the room. Leon and his group have been good. I have a lot of faith in them, the players and agents.”

On the pending extensions for Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart:

“First thing is, we try to talk about everything. we don’t want to leave any elephants in the room. that’s something Leon and his staff have been very good at — some would say the best in the NBA.”

On the NBA’s second apron and how it impacted the Knicks’ offseason:

“When it comes to contracts and second apron, on my grandkids, if you ask me to give you two facts about second apron, I can’t do it. I have no interest. Leon trusts me with stuff on court, and I trust”

On new Knicks center Andre Drummond:

“Watching him in the gym, he’s a little quicker and more explosive than (I) thought.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ offseason weight loss:

“I don’t know. I haven’t checked his body weight.”

On continuing to use Karl-Anthony Towns at the elbow:

“We started the season with an offense with him at the elbow. We just did different things.”

Karl-Anthony Towns talks about the Knicks losing Mitchell Robinson and signing Andre Drummond this offseason:

"I was very surprised that Mitch wasn't going to be back here with us. I think all of us were, so it was a surprise to everybody. Thought something would get done there,… pic.twitter.com/Mhd7SYc7pf

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) September 28, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns

On wanting to sign an extension with the Knicks:

“I’ve made it known that I want to play here; I’ve been a fan since a kid. I would like to get one done. I’d like to get it done and step on the floor and feel as comfortable as possible.”

On his comfort level if extension negotiations continue into the season:

“I think in this situation there’s no comfortability to be had.”

On Mitchell Robinson leaving the Knicks and Andre Drummond arriving in New York:

“I was very surprised that Mitch was not going to be back here with us. I think all of us were. Surprise to everybody; thought something would get done there, but we have Andre, someone I’ve respected a lot from afar and someone I’ve been a fan of. One of the best rebounders of our generation. To be able to play with him and also learn a little is going to be awesome.”

On starting over after winning the championship:

“Just get back to the drawing board, start at 0-0. Be hungry, be willing to do whatever it takes again to win it again.”

On losing weight during the offseason:

“I thought my wife thought I looked good. In the offseason, I always lose the weight. I use the offseason to give my body a chance to recover and rest.”

On bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy to his wedding:

“I couldn’t have a wedding without Larry.”

Jalen Brunson talks about the Knicks being able to handle winning:

"I have the utmost faith in these guys. I don't know about Josh, we'll see how he acts" 😂 pic.twitter.com/YihB62ezmw

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) September 28, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On losing Mitchell Robinson and adding Andre Drummond:

“It was tough. That’s my guy. I think no matter what I’m happy for him. It’s definitely difficult but you love to see someone advance generational wealth. Getting Andre, we’re execited. I think he can be a big piece to this team.”

On his confidence that contract situations won’t affect his teammates:

“I have the utmost faith in these guys. I don’t know about Josh, we’ll see how he acts”

On playing through his wrist injury during the playoffs:

“It was painful. I played through it. I did what I had to do to make sure I was right. I didn’t think I needed surgery. If that was case, I would have maybe done it sooner. I feel good. We’ll see.”

On what the Knicks learned about needing each other to win:

“As a group, we figured out we needed each other to win. We needed to be on the same page. … It wasn’t necessarily a turning point, you just do what you’re supposed to do every day.”

On how the opening weeks will reveal the Knicks’ identity:

“The first couple of weeks of the season are going to show us who we are.”

On the biggest lesson he has learned about winning:

“Just about not being satisfied, I think is the biggest takeaway moving forward.”

On his championship summer:

“It was the longest, shortest summer ever, but it was well worth it.”

On experiencing a championship in New York:

“I remember when the Yankees were in the World Series and just the electricity the city had. It just made you want to be a part of something like that.”

On his favorite “SNL” skit from his hosting appearance:

“Ask me in like a week, I still haven’t really watched it”

Josh Hart was asked how important it is for him to get an extension done with the Knicks:

"You always want to get it done, kind of as soon as possible. You don't want that trickling into the season because whenever there's uncertainty, there's going to be a lot of questions.… pic.twitter.com/pg1ieFZC6t

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) September 28, 2026

Josh Hart

On returning after the championship summer and pursuing another title:

“The weight of the jersey was extremely light this summer. This morning, it was a bit heavier. I think we’re all excited for the opportunity to do it again. … We’re not satisfied to just get one.”

On the Knicks writing their own history as defending champions:

“At the end of the day we write our own history. It shows the significance of the CBA and the second apron, but at the end of the day, that’s the past and it holds no precedence over what the future is gonna hold.”

On his future with the Knicks:

“I’m a Knick, love to be a Knick.”

On whether he expects to sign an extension before the season:

“Do I think it’s going to get done? I don’t think it’s going to get done. Once start of seasons, I want to focus on playing. I’m sure that’ll add a little extra weight to the jersey.”

On wanting to complete an extension before the season:

“Do I think it’s gonna get done? There hasn’t been much movement or conversation. I would love for it to get done.”

On handling his contract situation:

“At the end of the day, it’s a business. … You never know what’s going to happen. For me, as long as I wear this jersey, I’m going to play as hard as I can. Hopefully we figure it out. … If some of these things aren’t finished by February, it might be a different situation.”

On wanting contract uncertainty resolved sooner rather than later:

“You always want to get it done as soon as possible. You don’t want that trickling into the season. Whenever there’s uncertainty, there’s going to be rumors. At a human level, it can wear people down and impact”

On Jalen Brunson’s “SNL” performance:

“I thought he was fine. He doesn’t have a future in acting.”

"Just being me a little bit" 😂

Mikal Bridges talks about his IG live: pic.twitter.com/oCihx53gRD

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) September 28, 2026

Mikal Bridges

On whether teammates’ contract-extension situations could become a distraction:

“I have no input in all that but our guys are resilient and tough and no matter what’s going on, we’ll be alright.”

On his infamous Instagram Live:

“I was just trying to be me a little bit.”

On losing Mitchell Robinson and adding Andre Drummond:

“I think we’re just going to miss Mitch. That’s our guy, one of my good friends. We all love Mitch. We’re going to miss him, but bringing in Drum helps.”

On his favorite part of winning the championship:

“In the moment. Seeing everyone; we know how long the days and seasons are.”

Q: "You have one of the best poker faces in the NBA"

OG Anunoby: "I don't know what that means" pic.twitter.com/CJatkKomt2

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) September 28, 2026

OG Anunoby

On being told he has one of the NBA’s best poker faces:

“I don’t know what that means.”

On Mitchell Robinson leaving and Andre Drummond joining the Knicks:

“Everyone’s sad to see him go, but that’s how it goes in the NBA. Andre’s a great player, played against him for years now. We know he can help us a lot.”

On Mohamed Diawara’s potential:

“Endless upside”

On making an iconic play during the Knicks’ championship run:

“I mean, yeah, I don’t think really about it that much. But I know it was a big play. Makes me happy that I brought joy to everyone. Hopefully do something like that again”

On reviewing his missed shots and improving his jumper:

“I don’t like missing shots, so whenever I’m missing shots, I always review the film, see what I did right or wrong”

On watching his Game 4 game-winning tip-in again:

“Just watching it back, seeing all the excitement from the fans, my teammates, and then KAT getting the tip on the last play”

On the Knicks’ mindset entering the new season:

“Everyone’s excited, energized, ready to go.”

y’all know what day it is?? pic.twitter.com/I6rgftcgIV

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) September 28, 2026

There would have been a very easy answer for Jayson Tatum to give at Media Day.

Jaylen Brown is in Philadelphia now, and with him goes at least some of the oxygen that fueled years of “who’s the alpha in Boston?” conversations. Joe Mazzulla is calling this season the beginning of a “new era.” Tatum is entering Year 10 in Boston, healthy again after an offseason spent getting his body back to where he wants it. From the outside, there is considerably less ambiguity than there used to be about who sits at the center of the Celtics universe.

So when Tatum was asked at Media Day whether this was now “his team,” he could have said yes.

Instead, he pushed back on the question itself.

“It’s not a simple thing of, ‘Is this my team?’” Tatum said. “I don’t know if that’s the answer you’re looking for.”

If you were looking for a spicy viral clip, it wasn’t. His actual answer was probably more revealing.

“I understand the roles that we all play on this team. Everybody’s role is different. That’s what makes us a team,” Tatum said. “We all bring something different on a daily basis to make the group better, add towards winning, make this organization better. So it’s not just my team. I got 14 other teammates that I’m going to lean on, and we all need each other to be better every single day.”

Jayson Tatum on leadership:

“Leadership is about a lot of different things awareness is the biggest one. Self awareness, awareness of the group and just understanding.”
–@CLNSMediapic.twitter.com/rUoYGLWkoC

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) September 28, 2026

There’s an obvious irony to all of this. The Celtics have probably never looked more like Tatum’s team from the outside.

The partnership that defined most of his career is over. In his Media Day press conference, Tatum called Brown’s departure “tough,” acknowledging the business side of the NBA while saying he was grateful for what the two accomplished together.

Now, their separation is going to invite a different kind of attention.

There will be more questions about leadership. More attempts to decipher Tatum’s body language. Probably plenty of nights when every good or bad thing Boston does becomes some referendum on what Tatum looks like without Brown beside him.

But if anyone expected Tatum to respond to all of that by suddenly puffing his chest out and declaring himself the unquestioned owner of the franchise, they probably haven’t been paying much attention.

Tatum has never really taken the bait

“Very comfortable,” Tatum said when asked about taking on a leadership role. “This is Year 10, so just been through it all. Leadership is about a lot of different things. Self-awareness is the biggest one. And awareness of the group. Understanding we all have roles, and that we’re in this together.”

For years, the conversation around Tatum and Brown often seemed determined to force one of them into saying something the other could resent. Who was better? Whose team was it? Could they coexist? Did one need to defer to the other?

Tatum never really played along. Even as he became the more decorated player and eventually the face of the franchise, he rarely seemed interested in turning that into some public declaration of status. Monday was more of the same.

Derrick White said Tatum has become more vocal every year since White arrived in Boston, but he also pointed to the quieter part of his leadership.

“He definitely has his own unique way of being a leader,” White said. “He puts in the work, everyone sees him here … you come in here, like I gotta reach that level.”

That sounds much more like the Tatum Celtics fans have come to know: less interested in commanding a room than in showing up, putting in the work and gradually becoming more comfortable speaking when the moment calls for it.

None of that means his role hasn’t changed. Brown’s departure guarantees that it has.

And perhaps the clearest sign of that change isn’t anything Tatum said Monday. It’s who is now standing beside him. Tatum spent part of his Media Day availability talking about how much he watched Paul George growing up.

“He definitely was one of the guys that, when I was coming up, I used to watch a lot of film on,” Tatum said. “Just that archetype of a two-way player, 6-foot-9, scoring at all three levels.”

Jayson Tatum discusses getting to know Paul George, noting that he grew up watching and studying his game.

Fittingly, George is next up at the podium. pic.twitter.com/H5I2BEoz82

— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) September 28, 2026

George happened to be standing in the back of the room while Tatum said it.

When Tatum finished, the two dapped each other up, with George joking, “That was sentimental.”

There’s something a little strange, and probably pretty cool for Tatum, about that reversal. One of the players he used to study is now joining his team at 36 years old, entering a locker room where Tatum is the established Celtic and George is the newcomer learning how he fits around him.

A new cast around the same centerpiece

George enters Boston as a nine-time All-Star and one of the most accomplished players Tatum has ever played alongside. But George has already talked about his arrival in Boston partly through the lens of what his own experience can offer Tatum.

George said Monday that his years playing beside Kawhi Leonard can help him build an on-court relationship with Tatum. He also talked about Tatum having “a lot on his shoulders.”

George’s comments reveal something the “whose team is it?” framing misses. The hierarchy around Tatum has changed even if Tatum’s approach to it hasn’t.

Brown is gone. George arrives as an older star with experience playing next to another elite wing. White and Pritchard are both carrying larger responsibilities than they were a few years ago, while a collection of younger players are still trying to earn Mazzulla’s trust.

Tatum doesn’t have to announce himself as the leader of that group for everyone else to understand where he sits within it. His language hasn’t shifted dramatically, just the circumstances around him.

He’s also entering this version of the Celtics feeling considerably better physically.

“I feel great,” Tatum said. “Having this offseason to get stronger, get more explosive, or just work on my body in totality. I obviously feel much better than I did this time last year.”

George, who knows something about losing major time himself, said he thinks Tatum had a “tougher injury than I had” and expects the time away to ultimately make him better, forcing him to see the game “through a different lens” and changing his hunger.

There’s a strange symmetry to the relationship now. Tatum once learned by watching George. Now, George arrives in Boston with experiences that may help Tatum navigate a very different stage of his own career.

"To have this opportunity is amazing… I wish I was here a lot sooner. Not to discredit anywhere I've been, but since I've been here, it's just been nothing but happiness."

Paul George on joining the Celtics 🗣️

(via @CelticsCLNS)pic.twitter.com/sQoGMEcEDw

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 28, 2026

Of course people are going to ask whether this is finally “his team.” It’s the kind of framing sports conversations tend to demand, even if the person at the center of it has spent years showing little interest in the question.

Tatum didn’t suddenly discover some new philosophy of leadership Monday. If anything, his answer reinforced the one he’s been showing Boston for years.

He knows his role.

He knows how much bigger that role has become.

He just doesn’t seem to need ownership of the Celtics to prove it.

Moments after Hugo Gonzalez stepped down from the podium at Boston Celtics Media Day, the door on the righthand side of the Auerbach Center cracked open and Mitchell Robinson poked his head out.

“Oh my god,” he exclaimed, as he saw more eyes looking back at him than he probably expected. There was a special energy in the room from the moment that the monster-truck driving big man arrived (though he clearly hasn’t found a proper parking space for said truck).

His availability fittingly ended in jovial fashion. As Robinson stood up to walk off the podium, he pointed to the yellow Gatorade on the desk and made sure we all knew how nasty it was.

New Celtic Mitchell Robinson isn't a fan of lemon-lime Gatorade 😂
–@CLNSMediapic.twitter.com/WgCkzviMCV

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) September 28, 2026

It immediately became clear what sort of personality the Celtics had added when they signed Robinson in the offseason — a radiant one.

They also got quite the player.

“It’s a fresh start,” Robinson said months after leaving the reigning champion New York Knicks to join the rival Cs. “I just want to take the challenge to come here. We played against this team so many times, and they got on us multiple times. You know, and now that I can be a part of it and see how it is over here, I’m loving it so far.”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t just Boston getting on New York. The battles went both ways and Robinson was a huge part of that.

I’m sure the Celtics hated to see that man checking into games — I know I did. His nose for the offensive glass puts an unmatched strain on opposing defenses. You can play 24 seconds of great defense, force a miss, and then Mitch just creates an extra possession with a big board.

Per Databallr, Robinson’s 21.1% teammate miss offensive rebounding rate was the best in the NBA last season. At the same time, the Celtics scored the fifth most points off of second chances. The two are a match made in heaven.

“Mitch is one of the best bigs in the league and super efficient, and you know his ability to impact games,” Joe Mazzula praised. “Yeah, I’m upset that we’re not going to be able to foul him anymore. But that’s just how it goes. So he’s ours, and I think he’s going to make a big impact for us, and also help our Luka [Garza] and Neemi[as Queta]. His experience, and obviously coming off of a championship we can learn a lot from him.”

Robinson shared that Mazzulla wasted no time fostering a connection. The Celtics head coach paid him a visit down in Nashville this summer. The two clearly bonded over Mazzulla’s use of the Hack-a-Mitch strategy in years past, and Mazzulla’s willingness to apologize for regularly exploiting Robinson’s 50.8% career free-throw percentage.

“At first we had a little issue because I’m like, ‘you got to say sorry for fouling me,’ but he apologized.” Robinson joked. “Now we’re on the same team. So, you know, it’s going to be great. Just to build together and stuff like that.”

Robinson made it clear that he appreciates how the Celtics, as an organization, see their players as people instead of just players.

As for the free throws… he’s been working on them. A lot.

“I’ve been shooting a lot of free throws,” he emphasized. “A lot of free throws. I’ve been getting very confident with my free throws, my shooting touch, and stuff like that.“