As the leaves begin to turn in New England, the air is thick with anticipation for the Boston Celtics’ 2025-26 campaign. With exactly one month until the defending Eastern Conference contenders – fresh off a heartbreaking playoff exit – tip off their regular season on October 22 at TD Garden against the Philadelphia 76ers, fans are buzzing about what could be a season of redemption, reinvention, and rising stars. The opener marks the start of a grueling 82-game slate, released back in August, that promises fireworks from the jump.
It’s been a tumultuous offseason for the Green Team. The ghosts of 2025 still linger: a second-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks that not only ended their repeat dreams but also derailed star forward Jayson Tatum’s season – and potentially this one – with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Tatum’s absence, which could sideline him for the entire year, leaves a massive void in Boston’s scoring and leadership. “Losing JT hurts like hell,” said head coach Joe Mazzulla during media day last week. “But we’ve got a group that’s battle-tested and hungry. This is our chance to show the league we’re deeper than one man.”
The Celtics’ front office, led by president Brad Stevens, responded with a flurry of moves to soften the blow. Gone are key pieces from the 2024 championship core: point guard Jrue Holiday (traded to the Portland Trail Blazers), center Kristaps Porzingis (to the Atlanta Hawks), backup big Luke Kornet (San Antonio Spurs), and veteran Al Horford, who’s expected to sign elsewhere in free agency. In their place? A mix of proven scorers and fresh talent designed to inject speed and spacing into the offense.
Leading the influx is sharpshooting guard Anfernee Simons from Portland, whose 22.6 points per game last season could pair explosively with All-Star wing Jaylen Brown.fffbba “Anfernee’s a bucket-getter,” Mazzulla noted. “He fits our pace-and-space identity perfectly.” Other additions include rugged forward Josh Minott, stretch-four Georges Niang, and rim-protecting center Luka Garza, all brought in to bolster depth. Rookies are also in the mix: first-rounder Hugo Gonzalez (No. 28 overall out of Spain) brings international flair and perimeter defense, while second-round picks Amari Williams (No. 46) and Max Shulga (No. 57) add size and shooting off the bench.
Returning stars Derrick White and Payton Pritchard anchor the backcourt, with White’s defensive prowess earning All-Defensive honors last year and Pritchard fresh off a Sixth Man of the Year nod.fafcc2 Neemias Queta, who dazzled for Portugal at FIBA EuroBasket 2025, steps up as a potential starting center after a breakout summer. And Baylor Scheierman, last year’s first-round steal, looks poised for a larger role after impressing in camp.
The countdown truly began in preseason, where the revamped roster hit the court for four tune-ups in October. Boston opened with a road split against the Memphis Grizzlies (Oct. 8) and Charlotte Hornets (Oct. 10), showcasing Simons’ scoring burst in a 112-105 win over Memphis. Back at TD Garden, they hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers (Oct. 12) and Toronto Raptors (Oct. 15), using the games to experiment with lineups and integrate the newcomers. All four contests aired on NBC Sports Boston, giving fans an early glimpse of the “new-look” C’s. “Preseason was about building chemistry,” said Brown after the Raptors win. “We’ve got pieces – now it’s about putting them together.”
As for the regular season ahead, the schedule is no cakewalk. After hosting Philly on opening night – a rivalry game dripping with bad blood from last year’s playoffs – Boston travels to face the Knicks in a nationally televised rematch on Nov. 1 (ESPN). Holiday highlights include a Christmas Day clash with the Lakers (Dec. 25, ABC) and a late-season tilt against the Bucks on April 10. The squad wraps up April 12 at home versus the Orlando Magic, with playoff implications hanging in the balance.f0f373 Notably absent: a Christmas game last year, but the league made up for it this time around.
Analysts are tempered in their optimism. ESPN’s preview pegs Boston as a top-4 East seed but warns of growing pains without Tatum. The Athletic’s Jay King highlights the backcourt trio of White, Pritchard, and Simons as the key to unlocking a faster, more offensive-minded attack. Yet, with 18 banners in the rafters and a fanbase that’s tasted glory, expectations remain sky-high. “We’re not rebuilding,” Stevens insisted. “We’re reloading.”
Tickets for the opener are going fast – single-game sales via Ticketmaster start at $125, with suites available for premium packages. Most games broadcast on NBC Sports Boston, with select national spots on ESPN, ABC, and Amazon Prime.
