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Fresh off a slew of offseason roster turnover this summer, the Boston Celtics find themselves in a much different spot in the frontcourt than they were a year ago.
Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens ensured that rather than being backed into a corner again, the team would have options.
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When asked about the three-man center rotation of Neemias Queta, Mitchell Robinson and Luka Garza, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla had one word for what he’s most thrilled about.
“The versatility,” Mazzulla told reporters Monday at the Auerbach Center on media day.
Robinson arrived via free agency after Boston signed the 28-year-old to a three-year, $47.39 million contract shortly after his NBA title capture with the Knicks. That added a secondary starting option, with qualifications, to Mazzulla’s group, giving the Celtics flexibility to get creative this upcoming season.
Mazzulla acknowledged that while the Celtics can’t run all three each night in Boston’s lineup, each is deserving of being rewarded for their leaps last season.
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“Obviously Mitch’s resume speaks for itself,” Mazzulla said. “If you take a look at Neemi and Luka, they both are significantly better players than they were at the beginning of last season. Credit to them and their work ethic. I think with guys that you have coming back, you want them to take the next step. They both had great offseasons. They both deserve to be given more responsibility within the framework of our team. But we have three different kinds.”
Queta entered training camp as the man under the spotlight. Boston had just parted ways with Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet, leaving the roster’s frontcourt thin. And with only six prior starts through three seasons, Queta quickly adjusted to his promotion and became a vital fixture — averaging career-highs in points (10.2), rebounds (8.4), and blocks (1.3) across 76 appearances.
Garza, too, carved out a role for himself behind Queta, knocking down a career-best 55 threes while sweating like a marathon runner fighting for second chances on the offensive glass.
Meanwhile, in New York,…
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Publish date : 2026-09-29 18:19:00
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