TD Garden opens its doors to media three hours before tip-off. The stands are empty, most of the top stars aren’t in the building, and PA announcer Eddie Palladino is just arriving to set up his station.
That’s when the G League guys are working. JD Davison, Drew Peterson, Jordan Walsh, Jaden Springer, and Neemias Queta are getting after it. Small games of five-on-five half-court drills get fierce as they push themselves to outwork the coaching staff.
Boston’s “stay-ready crew” gets their shots up next. Svi Mykhailiuk, Oshae Brissett, and Xavier Tillman jump on the court. They fight to score on all the coaches in front of them, occasionally calling out guys from the bench they want to go toe-to-toe with. Once again, competition spawns out of tedious workouts.
From there, Sam Hauser, Luke Kornet, and Payton Pritchard get their turn, and the top six come after.
The one constant throughout all the sessions? The player development coaches.
Simple routines turn into contests between players and coaches. Springer’s corner threes earn him a point for every make, but Coach Tyler Lashbrook gets a point for every miss. The same goes for Coach Ross McMains’ session with Mykhailiuk and Tillman’s battle with Coach Jermaine Bucknor.
These coaches whom the players have become so familiar with because of their dedication and assistance are working unbeknownst to the general public. Faces the fanbase don’t get to appreciate have been laying the groundwork for the Boston Celtics’ success.
“I think it’s a testament to what we’re building and what we’re creating,” Joe Mazzulla said after winning Coach of the Month in December of 2023. “And so, it’s just a testament to the staff. I wish they would change it to Staff for the Month because I’m not doing it by myself.”
Fans know Mazzulla. The former Celtics assistant himself was thrust into the spotlight ahead of the 2021-22 season and is now leading one of the best teams in the NBA.
Some of the assistants are household names, too: Charles Lee, a highly-regarded assistant coach who just accepted the Charlotte Hornets head coaching position; Sam Cassell, a long-time NBA…
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