View From The Rafters: Behind the Scenes with the Boston Celtics

Prepare yourself for nearly 40 minutes of Joe Mazzulla gold! From comparing Formula 1 racers to NBA players, to revealing that he has a text thread dedicated to Pet Peeves, to explaining why he’s asked all of the Boston Celtics players to share PowerPoint presentations about themselves with the team this season, this episode has it all. Mazzulla also answers whether he trusts his gut or the data more throughout an NBA season, and dives into how the Celtics have pursued being the smartest team in the league, what stands out most from Jaylen Brown’s MVP-level season, and Anfernee Simons’ professionalism and impact on the C’s. Enjoy the Season 6 finale of View from the Rafters, with Mazzulla, Marc D’Amico and Sean Grande. 00:25: Pursuit of becoming the smartest team in the NBA 04:20: The perception of “depth” in the NBA is changing 08:20: Players being ready for unpredictable roles, highlighted by Luka Garza 10:20: Why the Celtics don’t have a consistent “rotation” 11:45: Anfernee Simons’ impressive growth with the Celtics 13:42: Mazzulla makes fun of Marc 14:48: Mazzulla’s constant pursuit of expanding his horizons and knowledge 18:56: Are younger players becoming more open to new ideas? 20:35: Celtics players presenting PowerPoints about themselves to the team 24:50: Jaylen Brown’s MVP-level season 27:10: Rapid Fire: Gut or Data, Pet Peeves, Who He’d Want to Fight, Sleep Habits & More

Scratch your 90s nostalgia itch with Dee Brown, who starred for the Celtics from 1990-1998. Brown touches on entering the league on a stacked Celtics team that featured Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and Reggie Lewis, and winning the NBA Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie. He also comments on parallels to Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum’s careers, as each of those players entered the league on title-contending teams. Brown goes on to reveal what it meant to him to be named Celtics captain, and his experience participating in and winning ESPN’s ‘Dream Job’ show that featured Stuart Scott, Stephen A. Smith, Woody Page and other famous ESPN personalities. 00:20: Brown on being back in Boston and getting a standing ovation during the Celtics-Bulls game 06:25: Rookie year, starting out 29-5, Dunk Contest, learning from Bird/McHale/Parish 10:48: Parallels to Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum’s careers 13:30: Shock factor of moving to Boston, seeing Hall of Famers at every practice 15:05: Being named Captain of the Boston Celtics 18:25: Exchanging “Brown No. 7” jerseys with Jaylen Brown, and JB’s legacy 20:02: Brown’s scare with Wellesley police, who mistook him for an alleged bank robber 23:44: Experience of wining ESPN’s ‘Dream Job’ and working alongside Stuart Scott & Stephen A. Smith

Phil Pressey has gone from Celtics player, to Celtics assistant coach, to Maine Celtics head coach. He covers his journey in detail in this week’s episode, including how Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla have influenced his coaching philosophy and daily approach to the job. Pressey tells a crazy story from this season that encapsulates the nature of life in the G League (and he sounds a bit like Joe Mazzulla while telling it). Plus, Pressey gives his insights on Celtics rookie draft picks Amari Williams and Max Shulga, plus two-way player Ron Harper Jr. 00:10: Becoming head coach of the Maine Celtics and coaching philosophies 06:52: How Brad Stevens, Joe Mazzulla and European coaches have influenced his coaching style 12:03: Handling the inconsistencies of life in the G League 15:51: Insights on Amari Williams, Ron Harper Jr. and Max Shulga 21:53: Coaching Maine to a franchise-record nine-game win streak 27:53: Crazy stories from life in the G League

Jordan Walsh made a presentation to his Celtics teammates this season about anime. He tells you how it came up and what he taught them, and how the exercise has built team chemistry. Walsh also details the mental struggles of his first two seasons in the NBA, and what has led to his sudden emergence as a critical player for the Celtics. The third-year forward, who sits next to superstar Jaylen Brown on the team plane, also brings viewers into what it’s like to be next to Brown every day, and the comment from Jayson Tatum that got Walsh through his first two seasons. 00:30: Walsh explains his love of anime and his presentation to the Celtics 04:50: Favorite nicknames so far 05:42: What led to his sudden emergence 08:15: Sitting next to Jaylen Brown on the team plane 11:45: Defending opposing superstars 14:20: Getting through the difficult times 17:45: Secret sauce of the development program at the Celtics

Dominique Wilkins, knnown as the Human Highlight Film, had one of the most successful returns from a ruptured Achilles in NBA history, as he returned to action after just 10 months and averaged 30 points per game that season. As Jayson Tatum recovers from his own Achilles tear, Wilkins gives advice and insight into what it takes to successfully return from the injury. Wilkins also turns the clock back to his memorable matchups against Larry Bird and the dynasty Celtics of the 1980s, and details his experience of signing with the Celtics in 1994 and what made him choose to live in Boston for years after his retirement. 00:55: Suffering an Achilles tear and the process of returning to play 08:00: Playing in Boston as a visiting player in the 1980s 13:45: Historic battle with Larry Bird in Game.7 in 1988 19:45: Top memories of playing for the Celtics and living in Boston 23:30: Leaving North Carolina and the ACC to play for Georgia in the SEC 24:45: Playing in the final game in the old Boston Garden 26:30: Jaylen Brown honoring Dominique in the Slam Dunk Contest

At just 19 years old, Hugo Gonzalez has made the leap from the Euroleague to the NBA look easy. He explains how signing into the Real Madrid basketball program in Spain at nine years old, and growing up in the Euroleague world, helped to develop him beyond his years. Gonzalez also explains the similarities and differences between Euroleague ball and NBA ball, as well as the challenges of his move to the league. We also learn of the impact Hugo’s parents, who were both professional players overseas, had on him growing up, and how they led him through the process of growing up in the Real Madrid program. Last but not least, Hugo comments on the legend of Luka Doncic, who also played for Real Madrid and faced the Celtics in a preseason game back in 2015. 00:24: On joining Real Madrid at 9 years old 04:25: On being teammates and roommates with Egor Emin, of the Brooklyn Nets, with Real Madrid 05:28: Similarities between the Boston Celtics and Real Madrid 06:25: Describing Euroleague basketball as the most tactical basketball in the world 11:15: What else is in his offensive bag that we haven’t seen? 12:12: Which is a stronger feeling for Hugo: his love for winning, or his hate for losing? 13:15: How his parents, who both played professionally in Europe, helped to mold him growing up 15:00: How he chose his first agent 16:20: The legend of Luka Doncic within the Real Madrid program

Josh Minott joins VFTR on his birthday – and he’s bringing the gift of storytelling. The rising Celtics forward dives into his NBA journey, the grind of earning minutes on a championship-level roster, and why humor helps him stay locked in through the ups and downs of a season. He shares what wearing No. 8 means to him, how Celtics fans have embraced his energy, and why playing hard is non-negotiable. Minott also opens up about his role in Boston’s depth-driven rotation, learning through real NBA reps, playing alongside another sparkplug wing in Hugo Gonzalez, and feeding off team energy. He touches on what it’s like guarding star players (preparing for war), his Jamaican heritage, championship hunger, and the fiery dynamic between him and Joe Mazzulla. 00:18: A birthday surprise for Josh 00:55: Navigating an inconsistent role on a deep roster 02:45: Josh seeing his hard work pay off 04:29: Building a winning routine 05:34: Why Celtics fans fell in love with Josh’s energy 08:20: The meaning behind No. 8 10:19: Playing alongside Hugo Gonzalez & feeding off team energy 11:08: Defensive mindset: guarding the opponent’s best 13:08: Jamaican heritage & hopes for Jamaican hoops 17:45: Championship goals & fiery relationship with Joe Mazzulla

Celtics Legend Robert Parish joins the VFTR pod for a wide-ranging conversation on one of the greatest eras in Boston basketball history, while connecting it with the game today. Parish reflects on the unselfish culture of the 1986 Celtics, reconnecting with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, and what it meant to be a part of the original Big 3. He shares stories of the moment he knew how special that Celtics team would become, the hard lesson he learned when joining that team, and the underappreciated legacy of Cedric Maxwell. The Hall-of-Famer also dives into going head-to-head with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, winning titles with both Bird and Michael Jordan, and comparisons between the 1986 and 2024 championship teams. He gives his thoughts on why Jayson Tatum is a “generational talent,” and his view on Victor Wembanyama and the evolution of big men. From Celtics City nostalgia to a Maxwell Hall of Fame campaign, The Chief delivers honesty, humor, and timeless perspective on what makes championship basketball. 1:36 – What made the 1986 Celtics so special 4:44 – Reuniting with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale 6:21 – Cedric Maxwell’s overlooked impact 8:08 – When Parish knew the Celtics were championship material 10:14 – The origin story of No. 00 12:11 – Jayson Tatum as a “generational talent” 14:26 – Similarities between 1986 and 2024 title teams 14:40 – Parish on load management & his games-played record 19:30 – Battling Kareem & the most unstoppable big men 22:48 – Winning titles with Bird and MJ, their different leadership styles 28:54 – Cedric Maxwell’s Hall of Fame campaign

Remember when Isaiah Thomas popcorned Jaylen Brown’s car during JB’s rookie season? Isaiah Thomas does, and he tells the whole story here. IT joined the VFTR crew in studio during his recent trip to Boston to remember the glory days of when he and Celtics Nation first fell in love, and how it still feels like he’s on the roster. Thomas describes what it felt like to become a bona fide superstar for the Celtics during his 2.5 seasons in Boston. He became an MVP candidate. As a result, he earned some dream opportunities that he still remembers like it was yesterday, like hearing Shaq and Kevin Garnett respect and compliment him during a trip to the Inside the NBA studios, and his first experience as an NBA All-Star. 00:55: IT explains why Boston feels like home to him, and how it feels like he’s still on the roster 05:30: Isaiah promises it felt “different” the first time he suited up for the Celtics at TD Garden 07:00: IT touches on his height, at 5-foot-9, and how that supercharged his story 09:00: Grande says IT was “the match to the flame” for those underdog teams 10:50: Telling the story of a memorable trip to the Inside the NBA studios 14:00: Remembering his first All-Star experience and being like “a kid in a candy store” 17:00: What it was like playing with rookie Jaylen Brown 20:45: IT tells the story of when he popcorned Jaylen Brown’s car at TD Garden 23:50: IT plugs is hew podcast – the Point Game Pod

Luka Garza grew up an East Coast guy, and after eight years in the Midwest, is excited to be back after signing with the Boston Celtics this past offseason. He explains what separated the Celtics from other potential suiters in free agency, including the fact that some members of Boston’s front office still remembered his pre-Draft workout from 2021. Garza also dives into the astonishing lineage of athletic success in his family, and opens up about a life-threatening surgery he underwent heading into his sophomore year of college that led to a 10-pound cyst being removed from his abdomen. 00:15: Living in downtown and settling into Boston 02:10: On the drivers in Boston 03:00: The Celtics have had an eye on Garza for a while 05:50: Attractiveness of the Celtics’ player development program and what sets it apart 09:10: On the developing chemistry of the new frontcourt with Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman 11:50: The astonishing lineage of athletic success in his family, dating back decades 16:05: Reliving a life-threating surgery that led to a 10-pound cyst being removed from his abdomen

Bill Russell, Tommy Heinsohn and KC Jones told stories for decades about their basketball dynasty during the 1950s and 1960s. But what was it like growing up as one of their children during those epic dynasty years? Karen Russell, Paul Heinsohn and Bryna Jones, who are children of those three NBA legends and Basketball Hall of Famers, came together for a special episode that revolved around that exact topic. Amid the conversation, they discuss parallels between those great dynasty teams,and the teams of the present that are headlined by Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. 00:40: Growing up as a kid during Celtics dynasty years 03:02: Differences between being a Celtics kid now, versus back in the day 08:30: How social media reconnected the “Dynasty Kids” 11:33: Why KC Jones is under-appreciated, and how Red Auerbach respected his players 14:12: What it was like having an NBA coach as a dad 22:35: The care Russell, Heinsohn, Jones and the Celtics had for one another 23:50: The Celtics dynasty teams used to do what?! 26:55: Reflecting on the Celtics City docuseries on HBO 30:28: Remembering Bill Russell saying in the 1969 Finals that the Lakers’ balloons wouldn’t be dropped 31:18: Detachment from their fathers due to the team travel 34:15: Discussing the current players and their kids, including Jayson and Deuce Tatum 39:30: Why are they and their families such fans of the current Celtics teams? 44:55: Seeing their dads’ numbers hanging in the rafters never gets old

Get to know the history and personality of one of the newest Celtics, Anfernee Simons, as he joins View From The Rafters for the first time. Simons explains why he believes the Celtics culture and coaching will take his game to another level this season. He also opens up about some of the most emotional and “craziest” experiences of his NBA career, including having a front-row seat to Damian Lillard’s game-winner against the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019, and scoring 43 points the day after his grandfather passed away in 2022.

What led to Joe Mazzulla saying some of his wildest quotes? How did Payton Pritchard make it through the 2021-22 season, when he requested a trade? What makes the STOCK Exchange of Derrick White and Jrue Holiday so special? Those are just a few of the topics we cover in Season 5’s greatest hits episode. We also highlight the top moments from our mega Celtics podcast crossover, talk with assistant coaches Sam Cassell and Phil Pressey about their journeys and futures, and catch up with rookies Baylor Scheierman and Anton Watson on what they’ve learned from being around superstars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Enjoy the greatest hits from another excellent season (and one that’s still ongoing – we’ve got more episodes to come)! 00:19 - Joe Mazzulla 11:06 - Derrick White & Jrue Holiday 17:25 - Sam Cassell 24:53 - Anton Watson & Baylor Scheierman 29:36 - Payton Pritchard 37:08 - Phil Pressey 42:25 - Mega-CrossoverSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when many of the top Celtics podcasts unite under one roof? You get the official Celtics mega crossover pod 🎙️☘️ View From The Rafters hosts Marc D’Amico, Sean Grande and Abby Chin brought John Karalis of Locked On Celtics, Chris Forsberg of Celtics Talk and Jay King of Still Poddable together for a one-of-a-kind episode featuring great stories, New Year’s resolutions and light-hearted shenanigans along the way. They discuss their favorite Celtics memories, such as Leon Powe’s return to Oakland and Isaiah Thomas’ 53-point playoff gem, as well as which player is the best quote from those whom they’ve covered. They close it out with some measured opinions on the 2024-2025 campaign. Check out the end of the pod where they give a special shoutout to their fans and info on how you can listen to each show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phil Pressey has been around the Celtics for almost two decades. Whether it was beating Tony Allen in shooting bets as a kid, getting picked up as an undrafted free agent as a player, or now being a coach for the title-winning Celtics, he embodies what it means to be a Celtic. Phil tells us what it was like growing up around NBA players as his dad was racking up a 20-year coaching career, and how that experience shaped him as a coach. He also talks about his relationship with Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla, including how he wound up back in Boston on their coaching staff, and about Payton Pritchard’s insane work ethic. He even tells kids from his hometown to pay attention to what Pritchard brings to the table.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Payton Pritchard is in the middle of a career year, both on and off the court. Whether it’s going viral after playing with kids in the park, getting married to a social superstar, or being the NBA’s leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, it takes a lot of work and focus to keep everything under control. But how did he get here? What did he have to go through to become who he is today? Payton takes us under the hood of how he crafted his incredible work ethic, and how he battled through the hardest year of his life – and a public trade request – to propel himself into NBA stardom this season with the Boston Celtics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The COVID-19 pandemic broke out at the tail end of Baylor Scheierman’s and Anton Watson’s freshman seasons in college. The pandemic wound up shaping the rest of their lives, as both wound up staying in college for five years. The two Boston Celtics rookies and draft picks recall what it was like when COVID hit, how they benefited from an extra year of college basketball, what they’ve learned from being teammates with superstars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and what they think of head coach Joe Mazzulla.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Cassell has won four NBA championships spanning 30-plus years in the NBA. He’s played with multiple MVPs (Hakeem Olajuwon, Kevin Garnett). He’s coached an MVP (Joel Embiid) and multiple MVP candidates (Jayson Tatum, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul). When we suggest that when he speaks, you should listen, we mean it. Cassell describes the experiences of winning four championships and what set the 2024 title apart, including being the first person to greet Jayson Tatum in the locker room with a champagne shower. He also discusses what it’s like working with Joe Mazzulla, what makes Jayson Tatum such a special player to coach and what makes him ready for an NBA head coaching job right now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Derrick White and Jrue Holiday react to their nickname “The Stock Exchange,” and say they need some suggestions from Celtics Nation about a Stock Exchange hand shake. They dive into what it’s like playing defense alongside one another, including Jrue’s disbelief at how Derrick blocks shots in so many ways as a guard. They also discuss how they communicate to each other in the middle of games, and give their takes on what makes both a great individual defender and a great team defense.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Mazzulla joins us for the first episode of the View from the Rafters season to break down his unique approach to coaching in the NBA, and to life in general. That includes his use of psychology and methodology with everyone around him, including his players. Most importantly, we ask him to give context to his best quotes, and he also talks about his inspiration from Red Auerbach and Pep Guardiola, and why he thanked every member of the Boston Celtics staff via a personal letter following last season’s championship.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.