The 2018-19 season was expected to be one of greatness for the Celtics, especially after their deep playoff run the previous year. With players like Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum leading the team, expectations were through the roof. Boston fans were hopeful that their team would emerge as a legitimate contender for the NBA championship. The addition of veteran big man Al Horford gave the team even more depth and experience, making the squad appear unstoppable on paper. But sometimes, what looks good on paper doesn’t always translate to reality.
During media day, the Celtics players were all smiles and full of optimism. Kyrie Irving, the team’s star point guard, shared his enthusiasm for the season. "I can only feel like myself playing out there in an NBA game," Irving said, according to The Boston Globe's Adam Himmelsbach. Having spent much of his summer honing his skills, Irving seemed ready to take the team to the next level. He even mentioned that he had a chance to play pickup games in the Pacific Northwest, where none other than Celtics legend Bill Russell was watching from the sidelines. The idea of playing basketball with a figure like Russell in the audience was enough to excite anyone, and Irving was no exception. It was clear he was riding high on the energy of the offseason, eager to make an impact.
But as the season would later show, Irving's excitement didn’t translate into the leadership and cohesion that the team desperately needed. While he had flashes of brilliance on the court, the internal dynamics of the Celtics began to unravel as the season progressed. The chemistry issues between players started to surface, leading to a turbulent environment in the locker room. What began as a season full of promise quickly became one mired in frustration and disappointment.
Jayson Tatum, another key figure in the Celtics lineup, expressed his excitement about playing alongside Irving. "I just love being out there with him. He’s a great player and teammate," Tatum said during media day. "I still get excited at some of the things he does on the floor. It never ceases to amaze me." Tatum, who had burst onto the scene during the previous season’s playoff run, was expected to take another leap forward in his development. Fans were eager to see how he would evolve, especially with a healthy Irving by his side. Tatum’s admiration for Irving’s skills was clear, but even that bond couldn’t save the team from the internal issues that were brewing behind the scenes.
Veteran center Aron Baynes also chimed in on the team’s potential, drawing comparisons between the Celtics and the 2014 San Antonio Spurs, a team he had been a part of when they won the NBA Championship. "In 2014 with the Spurs, everyone set aside their egos and allowed us to be great, and that’s one of the common things I see here in Boston," Baynes said. His words were filled with optimism, but unfortunately, they proved to be overly hopeful. In contrast to that Spurs team, where everyone bought into their roles and played selflessly, the Celtics struggled with internal friction throughout the year. As the season wore on, egos clashed, and the team couldn’t find the cohesion necessary to contend for a title.
The internal turbulence that plagued the Celtics eventually led to both Kyrie Irving and Al Horford leaving the team in free agency at the end of the season. Irving’s departure was particularly controversial, as he had publicly stated earlier in the year that he intended to re-sign with Boston. However, the combination of personal issues, locker room tension, and the team’s lackluster performance led him to reconsider his future with the franchise. Al Horford, a stabilizing veteran presence, also chose to move on, leaving a void in the Celtics' lineup that would take time to fill.
Despite the season’s eventual collapse, media day in 2018 was full of hope and optimism, as it typically is for any NBA team gearing up for a new campaign. The players believed in the potential of the roster, and the fans were right there with them, expecting big things. The Celtics were coming off a season where they had made it to the Eastern Conference Finals without Irving and Gordon Hayward, leading many to think that with a healthy roster, they could challenge for a title. But basketball is a tricky sport, and the Celtics quickly learned that talent alone isn’t enough to win. It takes chemistry, leadership, and a unified sense of purpose—things that were in short supply as the season wore on.
In hindsight, the 2018-19 Celtics were a team full of individual talent, but they lacked the collective cohesion that defines championship squads. The excitement of media day faded as the season progressed, replaced by the harsh realities of internal strife and unmet expectations. The loss of key players like Irving and Horford in free agency further emphasized just how far the team had fallen from its lofty preseason expectations.
Looking back on media day for that season, it serves as a reminder that in the NBA, no matter how good things might look on the surface, the real test comes when the players hit the court. The 2018-19 Celtics may have started with optimism and confidence, but in the end, they were a team that failed to live up to the hype.
For a deeper dive into Celtics history, roster changes, and more insider commentary, make sure to check out the "Celtics Lab" podcast, available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
As fans reflect on this chapter in the Celtics' storied history, it’s clear that no season can be predicted, no matter how promising the roster might look on day one.
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