Banner 19? 3 Reasons the Celtics Will Repeat as NBA Champions

After a dominant 2023-2024 season, which concluded in a 4-1 gentleman’s sweep of the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals and the team’s first banner since 2008, the Boston Celtics are primed to be the NBA’s first back-to-back champions since the Kevin Durant-led Golden State Warriors.

There are three reasons, in particular, the Celtics are prepared more than ever to win Banner 19 this upcoming season.

Brad Stevens

This offseason, GM Brad Stevens was able to pull off something that rarely happens in any sport: he was able to retain all of the team’s rotation players. On day 1 of free agency, Stevens inked deals with big men Xavier Tillman and Luke Kornet. As the offseason continued, he was able to reach multi-year extensions with guard Derrick White and forward Jayson Tatum.

But Stevens didn’t stop there. With the 30th pick in the first round, Stevens selected sharpshooter Baylor Scheierman. For some icing on the cake, Stevens rewarded Sam Hauser with a multi-year deal and signed veteran wing Lonnie Walker IV to a one-year pact, solidifying this roster from the top down.

Joe Mazzulla

While Stevens is arguably the best GM in the league, he only acquires talent and needs a coaching staff as equally skilled to capitalize. Luckily, Boston Celtics has just that in head coach Joe Mazzulla.

In his two years at the helm, he has led the team to two Eastern Conference finals appearances and an NBA championship. His success won’t stop there, though. In a recent interview with Locked on Celtics, coach Mazzulla was asked about the team’s ability to repeat as champions and having a target on their backs.

"People are gonna say the target is on our back, but I hope it’s right on our forehead in between our eyes. I hope I can see the red dot."

- Joe Mazzulla

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown

With a top-tier GM and head coach, all that’s left is the players on the court. And this offseason the team’s superstars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, appear as hungry as ever.

For Eastern Conference and NBA Finals MVP Brown, it was being left off the Olympic squad after star forward Kawhi Leonard could not participate due to injury. And while Tatum was selected to the team, the NBA2K25 cover athlete was a healthy scratch by Team USA head coach Steve Kerr. So both still clearly have some respect to earn around the league.

With a great GM, head coach, and motivated superstars in tow, the reigning champion Boston Celtics should have a similar end result to the 2024-2025 season.

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