NEW YORK – If the NBA Draft were instead a recruiting game like the NCAA, the Boston Celtics would have the No. 1 class in the league.
Draft prospects love this organization.
Not because the Celtics pitch themselves to the players, but because the franchise sells itself.
These prospects may be young, but they are knowledgeable when it comes to the history of the game they will play for a living. They know that when it comes to tradition, the Celtics are second to none. That fact was hammered home to every prospect who walked through the doors of the team’s practice facility leading up to Thursday’s Draft.
“When I worked out there at their facility, seeing all the banners – the old ones that have stains and stuff – that was pretty awesome,” said Domantas Sabonis, who was one of two prospects who brought up Boston’s 17 championship banners unprovoked.
It is also clear to this year’s prospects that Boston is anxious – more anxious than nearly every team in the NBA – to add to its banner count, and quickly.
“They want to win more,” Malik Beasley said as he compared the Celtics to the other teams he worked out for. “You can just tell the whole staff is all on the same page.”
Boston’s staff just so happens to be the next important factor that draws prospects toward Boston. Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens may be 57 and 39 years old, respectively, but they connect with these 18- to 21-year-old prospects more than the majority of the executives and coaches around the league.
For three years, feedback from players has always been positive regarding Ainge and Stevens, beginning in May at the NBA Combine and culminating with pre-Draft media availability, such as today’s. This year was no different. Multiple prospects commented Wednesday afternoon as to why they feel so comfortable around the two figures who set the tone for Boston’s well-respected culture.
“Danny’s hilarious,” Malik Beasley said with a smile. The Florida State product went on to give an example of Ainge’s humor, saying, “He was just saying that he can shoot better than me, little things like that. He’s a funny guy, a great guy, a great personality.”
Beasley added that he had a “connection with everybody” in Boston, including Stevens, and that “was pretty cool.”
Jaylen Brown, whose name has been mentioned by many outlets as a potential target for the Celtics at No. 3, echoed Beasley’s thoughts.
“Danny Ainge is a great guy. Coach Brad Stevens is a great guy,” he said, “and I feel like I connect with them really well.”
Even the players who didn’t meet with the Celtics feel a draw toward the franchise. Big Ten Player of the Year Denzel Valentine and Big East Player of the Year Kris Dunn, neither of whom met with or worked out for the Celtics during the Draft process, gave their takes on the franchise Wednesday afternoon.
“I didn’t work out for the Celtics, but I know they’re a great organization with great history,” Valentine said, adding that he’d love to join the Celtics and continue to wear the green and white colors he donned at Michigan State.
Dunn, meanwhile, commented, “Brad Stevens, he’s doing a great job over there. He brings the best out of the players. He knows what he’s doing.”
“I would have no problem playing under Brad Stevens because I know he would make me push and work harder to try to bring the best out of me.”
There is a long list of smiles, compliments and borderline pitches these players threw out to the public Wednesday afternoon when speaking of the Celtics. They love the Celtics, and they want the Celtics to love them.
Boston cannot choose every prospect, but it can choose eight. That would leave 52 others likely wishing for more – more green and white – Thursday night.
