Boston Celtics' new frontcourt, Tatum's

The Boston Celtics are rebuilding their identity with new frontcourt pieces and a shifted leadership hierarchy after Jaylen Brown's departure. Jayson Tatum is the undisputed face of the franchise after Jaylen Brown was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. Mitchell Robinson signed a three-year, $47.4 million contract with Boston on July 1st, and his first appearance in a Celtics uniform was at Media Day for the 2026-27 season, which took place on a rainy Monday outside the Auerbach Center.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla, who visited Robinson in Nashville this summer, said the center is one of the best big men in the NBA. Robinson said Mazzulla sees them as people instead of just players. During their offseason meeting, Robinson apologized for fouling Mazzulla so much when he was on the Knicks, a sentiment Mazzulla had previously expressed to him. The Celtics' decision to acquire Robinson came up during that visit.

Frontcourt evolution with Robinson and Queta

Mitchell Robinson's arrival and Neemias Queta's role as his running mate will reshape the Celtics' defensive and rebounding identity. Queta praised his new teammate, calling Robinson a great guy to be around who will make the team a lot better. He said Robinson will give the team a different look by rebounding at a high level and defending one through five. Robinson's rebounding ability is expected to add a new dimension to the Celtics' front-court, which looks to improve after the team finished last in pace in the NBA last season.

Tatum's leadership evolution in his 10th season

Jayson Tatum embraces his role as undisputed franchise face while emphasizing self-awareness and team reliance in his 10th NBA season. The 2024 champion, who came back from an Achilles injury last season, attended his tenth Celtics Media Day press conference. Tatum stated leadership is about self-awareness, awareness of the group, and understanding roles. "It's not just saying it's my team," he said. "I have 14 other teammates I will lean on." He added that he feels comfortable taking on the leadership role and that he feels 'great' more than a year after offseason Achilles surgery.

Teammate Sam Hauser revealed Tatum organized the entire offseason workout group chat and invited teammates to participate in Los Angeles. Hauser said Tatum hit the group chat, invited everyone out, and most made it work. The group did a lot of work on the court, played some golf, had dinners, and worked out with younger guys like Chris Cenac Jr. And Dillon Mitchell.

Offensive identity and roster integration

The Celtics plan a faster, more free-flowing offense with new pieces like Paul George and Robinson, while maintaining health and balance. Payton Pritchard, the 2025 6th Man of the Year who averaged a career-high 17.0 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.1 rebounds last season, confirmed the offense will be more free-flowing and faster. Pritchard said the Celtics are going to be playing with more movement and hopefully a little bit faster, leveraging fast, energy guys like himself, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and Jordan Walsh.

He also stated his personal drive to exceed expectations. Everybody tries to put people in a box and I feel like I blow those expectations out the water, Pritchard said. I will find something that will make me excel to another level. Derrick White, who made fewer than 40 percent of his field-goal attempts last season, is expected to be a big part of a more balanced offensive attack.

The team is healthy to begin the season. New addition Paul George, 36, who entered the NBA in 2010 when Tatum was 12 years old, has said his body feels better than it has in a while and that he feels healthy and capable of performing at a high level. George was acquired from the 76ers, with Ron Harper Jr. Facilitating the move by switching his jersey number from 13 to 8 and giving number 13 to George. Harper said both parties came to a mutual agreement that benefited them both and they are both really happy with how the number swap worked out.

Coach Mazzulla said he is intrigued by the challenge of building a new identity with new pieces in place, which includes George, Mike Conley, and Robinson. The Celtics are considered an afterthought compared to the defending champion Knicks and new-look 76ers in their division. They will open the season without Jaylen Brown for the first time in more than a decade.