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

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 game06:25: Rookie year, starting out 29-5, Dunk Contest, learning from Bird/McHale/Parish10:48: Parallels to Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum’s careers13:30: Shock factor of moving to Boston, seeing Hall of Famers at every practice15:05: Being named Captain of the Boston Celtics18:25: Exchanging “Brown No. 7” jerseys with Jaylen Brown, and JB’s legacy20:02: Brown’s scare with Wellesley police, who mistook him for an alleged bank robber23:44: Experience of wining ESPN’s ‘Dream Job’ and working alongside Stuart Scott & Stephen A. Smith

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 Celtics04:50: Favorite nicknames so far05:42: What led to his sudden emergence08:15: Sitting next to Jaylen Brown on the team plane11:45: Defending opposing superstars14:20: Getting through the difficult times17:45: Secret sauce of the development program at the Celtics

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 old04:25: On being teammates and roommates with Egor Emin, of the Brooklyn Nets, with Real Madrid05:28: Similarities between the Boston Celtics and Real Madrid06:25: Describing Euroleague basketball as the most tactical basketball in the world11:15: 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 up15:00: How he chose his first agent16:20: The legend of Luka Doncic within the Real Madrid program

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 special4:44 – Reuniting with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale6:21 – Cedric Maxwell’s overlooked impact8:08 – When Parish knew the Celtics were championship material10:14 – The origin story of No. 0012:11 – Jayson Tatum as a “generational talent”14:26 – Similarities between 1986 and 2024 title teams14:40 – Parish on load management & his games-played record19:30 – Battling Kareem & the most unstoppable big men22:48 – Winning titles with Bird and MJ, their different leadership styles28:54 – Cedric Maxwell’s Hall of Fame campaign

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 Boston02:10: On the drivers in Boston03:00: The Celtics have had an eye on Garza for a while05:50: Attractiveness of the Celtics’ player development program and what sets it apart09:10: On the developing chemistry of the new frontcourt with Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman11:50: The astonishing lineage of athletic success in his family, dating back decades16:05: Reliving a life-threating surgery that led to a 10-pound cyst being removed from his abdomen

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

The Celtics are 3-0 after coming up clutch Saturday night in Detroit. Tonight we take a comment from Derrick White's father, Richard White, on what he took from the win, another fan is already looking ahead to the Playoffs, and another says Jayson Tatum has reached top-3 status after another 37-point outburst. Let's dive into the win!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SOUND OFF is back for another season and we tip it off from Banner Night at TD Garden. How insane is Boston's 3-point shooting? Are the Celtics apex predators? How good is the defense? We answer it all after the Boston Celtics received their preposterously-sized championship rings, then raised the franchise's 18th championship banner to the rafters, and then clobbered the Knicks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.