Paul George, Mike Conley talk Jaylen brown trade, joining Celtics, and more

BRIGHTON – Just two weeks out from Media Day, the Boston Celtics made some important introductions. For the first time, Paul George and Mike Conley Jr. spoke to the media as the newest members of the Celtics.

Mitchell Robinson was supposed to be in attendance as well, but he was a last-minute scratch, as he had to attend to personal matters. So, it was George, Conley, Joe Mazzulla, and Brad Stevens up on the stage at the Auerbach Center.

Top of mind was still Jaylen Brown. It’s been that way all summer. From the very moment Boston made the controversial decision to ship him to the Philadelphia 76ers, few discussions have been possible without bringing that choice into the mix. Tuesday afternoon was no different.

The very first question George fielded was about the trade. Not about what he can bring to the table. Not about his time in Philadelphia. Not about his excitement to be joining the Celtics. Instead, the question was simple: What do you make of Bostonians' viscerally poor reaction to the trade? Luckily, George’s perspective was refreshing.

“Listen, I understand the circumstances. I understand how huge JB was, not only for the organization, but here in the city. So I didn't take it personal,” George said. “To be honest, they should have a relationship emotionally to that trade. But my job here is [to] kind of come in, [and] it's a great opportunity for me. Obviously, the last two years have been rough just with injuries. But for myself personally, I feel great again. 

“I feel like I've turned that corner of dealing with injuries, and now kind of reestablishing myself from a physical standpoint again. And with that, I can carry it over to the court. So, again, no personal feelings towards the initial [reaction], how it [was] received in here in Boston. To be honest, it's fair. But it's just one foot in front of the other. Hopefully, with how we start this year, they understand it's going [to be] a new team and something that they can be proud of.”

Brown was traded to the Sixers in exchange for George, a first-round pick, a first-round pick swap, and two second-rounders. For the past two seasons, George’s contract has been widely viewed as one of the worst in the NBA.

Throughout his short tenure in Philadelphia, George struggled to stay on the court. He appeared in just 78 games through two seasons (though that number is tainted by a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program).

This summer was different for George. He took in the reaction to the Brown trade. Only one person sat closer to the action than George, and that person was Brown himself. But George isn’t worried about filling Brown’s shoes. That’s not an attainable goal.

“I think it's fair to live with that emotion, given what JB stood for and what he brought in the history, right? He was a part of raising a banner and winning the championship here,” George said. “So, I'm not saying that-- That's going to forever stick, right?

“But it's a new group, it's a new opportunity, and again, I think they're getting someone that's ready to not fill the shoes or fill the void of JB, but I think, from a personal standpoint, myself, I think I can come in and kind of still keep us in that contention and give us a chance to win.”

Instead, George spent the offseason focusing on himself. On what he can bring to the Celtics. On his chance to don the green and white and earn the support of a new city.

For the first time in years, he did it differently. And that was a blessing. Rather than rehabbing an injury and donating hours to physical therapy, George was in the gym. He was working out constantly.

“It's almost like a kind of rebirth, or [being] reborn again to be in a system, be in a winning culture, a winning environment, and to feel good, be able to work,” George said. “I was able to train in the summer, which, my summers [the] past couple years were dedicated to rehabbing. So, a lot went into coming into Boston with a different mindset.”

The result? A feeling he hasn’t felt in years. According to George, this is the healthiest he’s felt in a long time. And considering he’s played more than 60 games just once in the last seven seasons, that’s a great sign.

“Injuries happen. Just hope that's behind me. Again, I feel great. I feel amazing. And that's all I can bank on,” George said. “I haven't felt like this in a very long time coming into a season, and that alone is a win for me. And so, now, it's about building and having an expectation to be ready to go when the season starts.”

Now, George will attempt to put his past behind him and enter a new, perhaps final chapter of his career. Conley, though health has been on his side, will hope to do the same. Like George, he still hasn't gotten over the hump and won a title. Boston should give him a chance to do that.

When he entered the summer as an unrestricted free agent, that goal was on his mind. And as soon as the Celtics came up as an option, his choice became obvious.

“It was fairly quick, honestly,” Conley said of his free-agency process. “But you know the main reason, you look around the league, there's very few organizations and teams that you look at that honestly are trying to win every year. The culture here in Boston speaks for itself. The championships, the banners, the fan base, it encompasses all of that. So, looking around, I was like, 'Man, what opportunities are out there for me?' Boston was a real one.

“And having an opportunity to play for such a storied franchise. Joe and Brad and all the team. The guys, the players to the staff. A1, top-notch. And [I] have an opportunity to be a part of it and contribute to that, and do what I can to help try to get that goal of the championship, which would be my first opportunity to try to do that. So, I just want to try to do it here.”

The Celtics organization still carries that weight. That respect. That legacy. Players around the league know what to expect when they come to Boston, yet when players join the team, a level of awe still accompanies their first steps in the building.

“You find yourself in there for two, three hours, not realizing you've been in there working that much, and just a part of the culture,” Conley said. “So yeah, I think that's initially what I think when I see it.”

It’s the banners. The mindset. The way everyone in the building approaches the day. That’s what stands out more than anything. That’s what Conley and George – two NBA veterans – noticed as soon as they got to Boston.

“When you think of Boston, it's winning, obviously,” George said. “Is it tied for banners? [Brad: Up one.] Up one in banners. [Brad: Mike would say up six, but.] And so, winning. Winning culture, winning environment, winning fan base.”

For the past four seasons, winning has run through Joe Mazzulla and his staff. Obviously, shortcomings over the past two years have erased the memory of confetti in 2024. That’s life in Boston. But Mazzulla has cultivated a culture.

To experience it, you have to be a part of it. Though tales are obviously shared and external expectations are formed. So, before George and Conley even got to Boston, they at least thought they had an idea of what Mazzulla was like.

But their expectations weren’t completely correct. What was seen as ‘crazy’ was, in actuality, simply a different way of doing things. Mazzulla isn’t afraid to go against the grain. In his eyes, there may not even be a grain to go against. And for two guys who have been in the league for almost 20 years, that’s a refreshing reality.

“I thought he was crazy before,” Conley said with a smile. “He's not. No, he's not, he's not. He's not crazy, no. My impressions have been everything that I expected. I think from here, from some of the players who played for him, just from around the league, his ideas -- He's not afraid to push the envelope a little bit. To try things, to try different schemes and different reactions for players, different ways of getting things across. 

“It's refreshing for me. You're used to just having coaches kind of be kind of structured in a certain way and how basketball has always been played. I get here, I feel like I don't know what I'm doing. Like I don't know. [Joe: I'll take that as a compliment.] It is. I don't know what, I'm like -- There's so much for me to learn about the game, but the way he sees the game is a different lens. So, I think that's a special thing.”

Winning spawns from work. Talent alone guarantees nothing in the NBA. In fact, the idea that talent guarantees success is often the exact trap the most talented teams fall into. So, the Celtics must do the work.

This season, there’s a new team in town. Jayson Tatum with a summer of work instead of Achilles rehab. George, Conley, and Robinson, all first-year Celtics. Payton Pritchard, eyeing a new, likely upgraded opportunity. Derrick White hoping to bounce back from a rough shooting year. And a group of young guys – some dangling shiny new extensions – looking to prove themselves.

Every season provides a new group and a new opportunity for the Celtics to redefine their needs. Mazzulla and his staff did just that last season, and they’ll have to do it all over again this year. The way George sees it, he’ll fit right in.

“I think, from afar, obviously, not being a part of [it] yet, they've always been high-IQ,” George said. “Really good at spacing. And you watch JT, you watch JB, the freedom that they had to kind of operate and play off one another. And it always just felt like they were a step ahead, right? And I feel that's kind of how I've always played the game from a cerebral standpoint of kind of seeing plays develop, seeing actions happen, being selfless with giving myself up, whether it's a pass and a cut or a screen away. 

“Just kind of that open concept. I think [that's] where I can fit in and really thrive in a system like this. So, that's kind of where I saw Boston from afar, and then, now being here, it's where I see I can really thrive in. So, I guess being excited to be in kind of a system like this.”

But Tatum is at the center. He’s the sun. Everything revolves around him. As soon as the Celtics decided to trade Brown, they committed to that truth. And they need everyone to be on board.

George has been a 1A in this league. He’s led teams on playoff runs, been in MVP conversations, and been heralded as a franchise player. Now he’s 36 years old and has only a few years left.

For some, it would be easy to still expect the world. To remain committed to being a top dog. An All-Star. An All-NBA candidate. To want to have the ball in your hands enough to make that happen. That’s not George.

“Superstar? We have a superstar, and that's JT,” George said when asked if he still has expectations of being a superstar. “I'm not here to, not necessarily, steal the shine or try to reinvent who I am. I'm here to help JT. He's the guy, right? I've played alongside another superstar wing, and we coexisted beautifully. And so, I see that with myself. I see that with JT. 

“Being able to play off him, being able to help him, being able to kind of still be a mentor. So, that alone, I can play off another superstar wing and still bring a presence and still be on the side of doing everything to win.”

Still be on the side of doing everything to win. You would be hard-pressed to find a better phrase to utter during an introductory press conference in Boston. Because that’s what the city – and the organization – is about.

George knows he’s not the Oklahoma City Thunder version of himself. Not the Indiana Pacers version of himself. Conley isn’t going to turn back the clock to his days as one of the greatest Memphis Grizzlies of all time.

Those days are over. They’re Celtics. Robinson, too. And based on the way they spoke during their first opportunity to do so, they understand exactly what’s expected of them in a Boston.

Full press conference quotes

Stevens' intro: “Hello, everybody. Welcome. We're obviously excited to welcome Paul, Mike, and Mitch, who's not here. Unfortunately, he had to leave this morning -- he's been here the last few days -- to attend to a personal matter. But it's an exciting day to welcome these guys. And Mike and Paul have both been here now for several days as well, and you can feel their presence in the building. Obviously, as Christian mentioned, very accomplished careers with tons of, not only individual accolades, but team accomplishments, and a lot to offer in a lot of different ways to our group, which you can feel as you not only watch them work out with the coaches, work out in individual small groups with other players, but then in also every interaction; you can see it, and we're lucky to have them. I think that they'll bring, obviously, a ton of impact on the court, but also, I feel like a ton of impact to our group off. So, welcome to both of you. Their families aren't here today, but we expect a lot of little ones to be rolling through a lot. The Conleys bring four of their own, and Paul brings three, and so we're excited to welcome both families when they get here and get settled, especially here in The Auerbach Center and at TD Garden.”

Mazzulla's intro: “Yeah, just excited to be able to have two guys that have been in the league for a long time and learn from their experiences. Both guys are extremely experienced, have had great coaches, have had great teammates, have been through the wars of the NBA season, regular season and playoffs. Competing against both of them at different times during the season has taught me a lot. It's taught our team a lot. They've been focal points of scouting reports in different capacities, and just excited to take advantage of those things, and at the same time, learn from them. So, it's a mutual relationship. Just based on their pedigree, who they are, and what they've been able to accomplish in this league, I think they'll make us better, they'll make me better, and hopefully do the same.”

George on his reaction to Jaylen and how he’s approached it: “Listen, I understand the circumstances. I understand how huge JB was, not only for the organization, but here in the city. So I didn't take it personal. To be honest, they should have a relationship emotionally to that trade. But my job here is [to] kind of come in, it's a great opportunity for me. Obviously, the last two years have been rough just with injuries. But for myself personally, I feel great again. I feel like I've turned that corner of dealing with injuries, and now kind of reestablishing myself from a physical standpoint again. And with that, I can carry it over to the court. So, again, no personal feelings towards the initial [reaction], how it [was] received in here in Boston. To be honest, it's fair. But it's just one foot in front of the other. Hopefully, with how we start this year, they understand it's going [to be] a new team and something that they can be proud of.”

George on his own reaction to the trade: “Yeah, I mean, it was a bit surprising, but I think obviously bringing kind of a veteran stance, leadership, being in this game for a while now. And to just be a great co-partner to JT. I think we got an unbelievable roster, unbelievable coach, obviously, front office. I've always admired everything Boston has done and stood for. So, I think coming in with that attitude and that mindset to win, I'm all in. And I'm happy to pull along and do my part to try to lead this group back to where I think everybody here feels and wants.”

George on his conversations with Tatum: “I think it's kind of just organically been us just working off one another, working with one another. I think those relations and those conversations will happen as we get going full-fledged. I think for right now, it's just learning one another. What we like, what we dislike, how I can help you, how you can help me. But those conversations will happen organically. It's not one thing to kind of rush that. We'll get on the court, and we'll iron that out.”

Conley on his free-agency process: “It was fairly quick, honestly. But you know the main reason, you look around the league, there's very few organizations and teams that you look at that honestly are trying to win every year. The culture here in Boston speaks for itself. The championships, the banners, the fan base, it encompasses all of that. So, looking around, I was like, 'Man, what opportunities are out there for me?' Boston was a real one. And having an opportunity to play for such a storied franchise. Joe and Brad and all the team. The guys, the players to the staff. A1, top-notch. And [I] have an opportunity to be a part of it and contribute to that, and do what I can to help try to get that goal of the championship, which would be my first opportunity to try to do that. So, I just want to try to do it here.”

George on his message to Celtics fans still upset with Brown trade: “Again, I think it's fair to live with that emotion, given what JB stood for and what he brought in the history, right? He was a part of raising a banner and winning the championship here. So, I'm not saying that-- That's going to forever stick, right? But it's a new group, it's a new opportunity, and again, I think they're getting someone that's ready to not fill the shoes or fill the void of JB, but I think, from a personal standpoint, myself, I think I can come in and kind of still keep us in that contention and give us a chance to win.”

Conley on his first impressions of Celtics organization and what he can bring to the table: “Yeah, I've been impressed. A lot. Just being in the building for the last few weeks, there's so many things I'm learning. I'm learning a lot about the culture around here, a lot about how things operate on a whole different level than I even operated as a player throughout my 19, 20 years. So, a lot to take from that. At this stage, at 20 years, honestly, you want to say you feel the same as you did when you were a lot younger, but you grow as you get older. You understand what you can bring in different points of the year. I still got a lot left. I still can do it on the court, off the court. But leadership is one thing I know I can bring. And the urgency I think that even myself and Paul got to bring for this team is two guys who haven't had a chance to win a championship yet. So this is that sense of urgency that maybe reignites that for the guys who have been on this team who have already won it, to kind of continue to push them every day, continue to show them how bad we want to win in practices and try to translate that to games.”

Stevens on when the organization stopped feeling the absence of Brown: “Yeah, I think we had our season launch yesterday, and at that, I had one picture behind me while I was speaking, and it was of the court being refurbished. And that happens every year right around the end of July. And to me, every single year you go through, it looks like the blank canvas of a court being absolutely redone. Nobody stepped on it, and now, it's that year's team to write its own chapter. And I felt that way every time they do it. It's one of my favorite times to be in the building, except for the smell, and right at that moment is when you start to focus on forward, right? And I think that that was that moment. Obviously, these guys both came in before that and briefly got a chance to meet some people as we were going through Summer League practice, etc. But really, at that moment is always, annually, my time to focus forward. And then, when these guys all get in the building, again, you can feel their presence. And we've been lucky. We've had amazing players here that are really accomplished. And these two add to that list. And I think Mitch, too. Like when Mitch came into the building for the first time. First of all, you can kind of, [it's] kind of jarring how big he is, obviously. It's good that we don't have to block him out. And it's just, that's part of the new team. And there's an excitement and an anticipation every time there's a new team.”

(Follow-up) But you would agree this is more than refurbishing the court this year?: “It's a new team. Every team's got its own opportunity to write its own chapter, and that would be if we brought back most of our roster. There would be changes. So I really feel that way. And so, that's the way we're looking at it. And I will say this, and these guys have both mentioned it: I really like this group. I really think this group will be good, and I know to the coaches, and I don't want to speak for Joe because he's sitting right over there, but I know how excited they are about it, and we're looking forward to getting started.”

George on play style and how he fits: “I think, from afar, obviously, not being a part of [it] yet, they've always been high IQ. Really good at spacing. And you watch JT, you watch JB, the freedom that they had to kind of operate and play off one another. And it always just felt like they were a step ahead, right? And I feel that's kind of how I've always played the game from a cerebral standpoint of kind of seeing plays develop, seeing actions happen, being selfless with giving myself up, whether it's a pass and a cut or a screen away. Just kind of that open concept. I think [that's] where I can fit in and really thrive in a system like this. So, that's kind of where I saw Boston from afar, and then, now being here, it's where I see I can really thrive in. So, I guess being excited to be in kind of a system like this.”

Conley on his passing, mentoring the Celtics’ young core: “Yeah, we've spoken on it a few times. The talent on this team is, we got a really deep team, a really deep roster, and our young guys, who've been working really, really hard this offseason, they've got a lot of talent. And they've got a lot to their games. They love to learn, very high IQ, and it's just about giving them more and more to their plate every day I can. If there's something I see, I'm not quiet about it. I'm just gonna say, 'Hey, do this next time, or look at this, or look at this option. How many options you got out of that?' Me and Payton work a lot. One-on-one with our workouts before practice or before five-on-five we play or hoop or whatever, and we're talking the game all the time. Like, I should shoot a floater, you should shoot a mid-range shot. Different things that complement his game might not complement mine, and I recognize that. You just got to know who you're talking to, and their personnel specifics. So, I'm excited to kind of get my hands on different opportunities and kind of give my brain to as [many] of those guys that are willing to listen and willing to learn from anything and any input I have.”

George on where he’s at mentally and if this move has reinvigorated him: “Yeah, I absolutely am. Again, the past couple years have been rough from a physical standpoint, and obviously, that weighs on you mentally. When you feel or you want to do things that you know your body has a limitation to. I feel great. I feel really good physically. I've worked hard this summer. My body has naturally just healed. Just the time that I took off leading up to, coming back with Philly, my body was in such a different place, and then going into the summer really was a chance to continue to work, strengthen my body, strengthen my knee. And so, it's almost like a kind of rebirth or [being] reborn again to be in a system, be in a winning culture, a winning environment, and to feel good, be able to work. I was able to train in the summer, which, my summers [the] past couple years were dedicated to rehabbing. So, a lot went into coming into Boston with a different mindset, different mentality, and it's, again, all of this just comes naturally, coming to this building. And it just hits you. Like, you're here to work, you're here to get better, and I'm kind of carrying that. I'm coming in with that attitude, that mentality to be the best version for myself. And again, I'm ready. I feel this is the timing for me, and I'm all in.”

Mazzulla on how he views the identity of this team: “Yeah, I mean, I think there's an on-court identity and then an identity that the season creates based on the challenges that are presented to you. So, Mike kind of hit on a little bit, I think, heading in, it's building an awareness of the perspectives that we have. We have the group of us who have been here for a few years, who have experienced both winning and losing. Really both ends of the spectrum, the way we've won and the way we've lost, which carries wisdom and experience. We have Mitch, who's coming off a win. So, we have to take that wisdom and experience, and he was around great coaches and great players. And then, Mike alluded to it. Mike and Paul have a different perspective of not getting there yet, and that desperation, and we need to be able to leverage that as a team, and that's where they could lead and help us, and we could do the same. So, we have a combination of a couple of different perspectives that the league has given us, and we've got to be able to take advantage of that. And then along the way, we develop one together. Wins will do that. Losses will do that. Practices will do that. Travel will do that. We just keep working at it.”

George on the Celtics organization and what he has to prove: “Whenever I think of Boston, I think of a winner. A winning culture. Since I was a kid, it's been that way. Since I was in the league, I've seen -- I was part of the league when KG and them guys won, and Rondo and them. And obviously, the last one they won a few years ago. So, you just think of that immediately. And like PG said, when you walk into the building, there's a sense, there's an atmosphere, there's something that's just a little bit different. And you find yourself in there for two, three hours, not realizing you've been in there working that much, and just a part of the culture. So yeah, I think that's initially what I think when I see it.”

George on Celtics organization and what he has to prove: “Yeah, stole the answer right out of my mouth. I mean, it's winning. It's, when you think of Boston, it's winning, obviously, right? Is it tied for banners? [Brad: Up one.] Up one in banners. [Brad: Mike would say up six, but.] And so, winning. Winning culture, winning environment, winning fan base. And absolutely. I haven't won yet, so I'm on the other side of that. So, the chip on my shoulder is, I believe I'm a winning player. I believe I'm all about winning. Being a winning teammate, winning locker room guy. I believe I'm a winning guy. And so, that's always going to be a chip on my shoulder. And I'm a guy that, when it's all said and done, where my legacy falls, being compared to guys in my category, I've yet to have something to show for it. So, for me, that's where that chip lies on my shoulder.”

Stevens on Brown drawing LeBron James to the 76ers: “Our focus is on us. Our focus is on us. And obviously, we'll look forward to any challenges. And obviously, there's a lot of good teams all around the league, but we have to do what's best, what we think is in the best interest of us, both in the short and long term. And so, that was the decision, and we went through that in July. And today is about Mike, Paul, and Mitch, who's not here, and making sure that we are ready to put our best foot forward.”

George on what he was able to exploit vs. Celtics in playoffs last year and how he can help them respond: “Yeah, I mean, really, it was, again, that time that I had off. It was almost like a dog being let off the leash, right? Like, you've been chained up for so long, and the analogy there is just the limitation, again, physically. And then, to be healthy again, it just felt like I was able to do things, and quite frankly, it might have caught Boston off guard from an expectation that I could no longer move. But I was feeling good. I felt that I was able to do all the things out there to gain an advantage or be a weapon, and I just, playoff time is do whatever you can to win. So that's that's kind of just what  it was.”

Mazzulla on what he pulls from 76ers series: “I mean, that's not the only loss that you think about. I mean, you think about regular-season losses. You think about losses two years ago. You think about wins. I think it's just collecting as much data as you can of the process of winning and losing. It's not so focused on those three games. Obviously, there's a decent amount of that, but it's every time you win, you learn something, every time you lose, you do, and I think that's -- We're still pulling from two years ago, and the year before that, and even my first year. Individually as a coach, and as a team, you're just learning things. So, obviously, as a staff, as for myself, you spend time, 'Okay, you're in a 3-1 situation and you don't win, how do I have to get better? It starts there. But then you have to constantly pull from every situation that you've been in and apply it to the future, knowing that every day gives you more information on how to get better as well.”

George on if he still has expectations of being a superstar and how his injuries have changed that: “Superstar? We have a superstar, and that's JT. I'm not here to, not necessarily steal the shine or try to reinvent who I am. I'm here to help JT. He's the guy, right? I've played alongside another superstar wing, and we coexisted beautifully. And so, I see that with myself. I see that with JT. Being able to play off him, being able to help him, being able to kind of still be a mentor. So, that alone, I can play off another superstar wing and still bring a presence and still be on the side of doing everything to win. But from the injury standpoint, I mean, you play the game as hard as you can. Injuries happen. Just hope that's behind me. Again, I feel great. I feel amazing. And that's all I can bank on. I haven't felt like this in a very long time coming into a season, and that alone is a win for me. And so, now, it's about building and having an expectation to be ready to go when the season starts.”

Conley on his impressions of Mazzulla beforehand and how they've changed since joining Celtics: “I thought he was crazy before. He's not. No, he's not, he's not. He's not crazy, no. My impressions have been everything that I expected. I think from here, from some of the players who played for him, just from around the league, his ideas -- He's not afraid to push the envelope a little bit. To try things, to try different schemes and different reactions for players, different ways of getting things across. It's refreshing for me. You're used to just having coaches kind of be kind of structured in a certain way and how basketball has always been played. I get here, I feel like I don't know what I'm doing. Like I don't know. [Joe: I'll take that as a compliment.] It is. I don't know what, I'm like -- There's so much for me to learn about the game, but the way he sees the game is a different lens. So, I think that's a special thing, and something for me, and I'm sure Paul has [felt it], too."