Open door policy extended to ex-players
Pierce talks Tatum, Holiday, title hopes
For about 30 minutes after Thursday’s practice, the clocks at the Auerbach Center turned back 15 years. On one court, a trio of 2008 Celtics champions — Paul Pierce, Eddie House and Sam Cassell — engaged in an intense three-point competition with a few other C’s staffers.
Jayson Tatum walked out of a media scrum and watched the festivities from the side as the three former teammates went at it, trash talking one another.
“He’s making a comeback!” Tatum joked as Pierce launched 3-pointers from the corner. “We got one more spot! We got one more spot on the team!”
All week, former Celtics have taken over the Auerbach Center with training camp starting. Pierce and House have joined the proceedings for several days. Cassell is now an assistant coach. Earlier this week, Leon Powe and Satch Sanders stopped by. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has made it a priority to keep an open door to the building for the past. He sent out an email to all of the franchise’s former players with an open invitation.
“They started the tradition, they kept it going and now it’s our responsibility as an organization to keep it alive,” Mazzulla said. “But when you don’t see them all the time, you don’t get that connection to the past. The only past we have is the banners alone. The past should be the banners, but it should be the people. So I thought it was extremely important that any and every Celtic is welcome to practice or a game so we can build that brotherhood of what we are.”
Perhaps no player has taken that more seriously than Pierce, who has been a constant presence with the Celtics since he retired. This summer, he linked up with Tatum in Los Angeles and the two spent about a month working out
regularly. During his return this week, he has even connected with rookie Jordan Walsh to give him some pointers.
Pierce knows the importance of being there because he lived it when he was a player.
“Tommy Heinsohn, he was always there and then we look up and see John Halivcek, Bill Russell, (Bob) Cousy,” Pierce said. “It just brings a certain energy to the building whenever I saw those guys in practice or at the game. So I think it kind of continues the brotherhood. It’s all part of our culture and that is something that the Celtics have always been about. …
“It’s definitely inspirational because me understanding these guys coming back, this is something that they built and me coming back with the guys who bring in is something that I help continue to build and so on,” Pierce added. “It’s going to go on as long as this franchise is a franchise. And so I just think that’s important to keep that alive.”
Pierce was with Cassell this summer when they went together to watch Tatum work out, and the Celtics legend realized Tatum was training at the same gym he used to go to. He used it as an excuse to get back into shape, and so the two continued to work out together. Pierce said Tatum motivated him and reminded him how difficult the grind was, and that he was there to support him.
Naturally, their conversations geared towards Pierce’s playing days, and specifically the 2008 championship team.
“Of course I’m gonna share some stories,” Pierce said. “Of course I’m gonna throw that in there. Just talking about how we came together, and how it is when there’s pressure, and things of that nature. We have expectations, what’s that like, and things of that nature. Asking me how (Kevin Garnett) was in the locker room, just little snippets about the team and I’ll share some stories with him.”
Tatum was a sponge. The 25-year- old superstar has been knocking on the door of a championship for several years now, and Pierce did his best to express what it takes — even if their routes were different.
“I’m sure he’s more hungrier than ever because he’s felt what it tastes like to be in the Finals, he’s felt what it tastes like to be so close, so I just tell him just understand that it’s a long year and it’s hard to win,” Pierce said.
“Nothing’s easy, and he understands that.”
The hopes are high this season will mark the Celtics’ first championship since Pierce’s 2008 squad won it, and the legend has certainly been impressed in what he’s seen so far. By all accounts, the practices have been intense, and Jrue Holiday’s addition to the fold has raised the bar. Pierce loves what he brings, and thinks he’s the key to a championship.
“I think Jrue is a natural leader, a natural glue guy,” Pierce said. “He’s a champion, he’s respected around the league, he’ll be respected here and it’s just, it’s up to the guys around him to welcome him with open arms, make him feel comfortable, not only as a player but as family. I think that’s always important when you bring in new guys to just establish that comfort amongst his teammates. As far as fit, I feel like he was the missing piece.”
Olympian Tatum
Tatum won a gold medal as a member of Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that took place in 2021, and now he wants to do it again.
The Celtics star said after Thursday’s practice at the Auerbach Center he intends to suit up for Team USA for the Paris Olympics next summer.
“Of course,” Tatum said. “I won a gold medal already. I’d love to go back and do it again.”
Team USA’S Olympic team next summer looks like it will be stacked with superstars. Lebron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry have already announced their intentions to play. On Thursday, Joel Embiid — who holds American citizenship — committed to play for Team USA at the Paris Olympics, according to an ESPN report.