While New York's City's Madison Square Garden may be known as the Mecca of Basketball, it's nearly impossible to find a more storied NBA spot than Boston. Whether the fabled Boston Garden or the current TD Garden, which is located in the same area as the original arena, the city housed some of the game's best-ever players and teams. On Wednesday night, San Antonio Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama got to play the Boston Celtics for the first time.
The player who's taken the league by storm met a locale that has a tradition to match.
“It's a legendary franchise,” the generational prospect said following the San Antonio Spurs 117-98 loss on Wednesday.
Wemby on the Celtics' trademarks
Seventeen Celtics championship banners hang from the TD Garden rafters. As do 23 retired numbers. The organization has won another ten conference titles and 33 division championships.
And then there's the parquet floor. It's as synonymous with the Boston Celtics as the success they've enjoyed on it.
“The floor is very special. It didn't bother me but it is special. It's just beautiful and the locker room is beautiful,” the Spurs' first overall pick in this past summer's draft said after his first experience playing on the unique court.
Victor Wembanyama wasn't as complimentary of another of the Celtics arena's amenities.
“The weight room is way too small but the locker room is nice.” the 20-year-old phenom revealed with a smile on his face.
The Celtics as a measuring stick
The NBA's first dynasty has also been its most consistent, if not its most successful, over the last several years. The lack of a championship clouds their place in recent history because while they've reached the conference finals in five in the last seven seasons, they have only one NBA Finals appearance to show for it.
This year's group is on track for another great season. With a 32-9 record following Wednesday's 19-point blowout of the Spurs, the Celtics sport the best record in the league at the exact midway point of their season.
“It's the first seed. Sometimes it's hard to realize that we play against the top basketball players in the world. This is the top level and we're not that far away from competing, really, and winning, as it seems. It's a weird feeling as an individual already. As always, I feel like it every time I step on the court,” Wembanyama admitted.
Led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for nearly a decade, Boston has tinkered with other core pieces. Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were added over the off-season while Derrick White, Sam Hauser, and Payton Pritchard have grown into key roles over the last couple of years.
“The depth. Everybody can hoop on that team. Everyone's a threat on the court but at the same time they all know their roles,” Wembanyama noted about how this year's Celtics squad differs from recent editions.
“They're all willing to share the ball, from the most important franchise guys to the role players, everybody is ready to compete and to make the sacrifices. I can see that. I can see that more compared to the past few years as well,” the French phenom continued. “Just watching them, I remember clearly watching them in the Finals against Golden State two years ago and I can see the growth of that team.”
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