Since the franchise was founded back in 1946 by Walter A. Brown, the Boston Celtics have been one of the most storied organizations in the NBA. 18 championship banners have been raised in the TD Garden rafters, the most by any team in the history of the league. Just like the three other major Boston sports teams, Celtics fans hold their squad to a higher standard year in and year out, because winning has been the norm for the past 79 years.
The great Celtics have always responded well to this pressure and embrace it, knowing they're playing for one of the most loyal fan bases in sports. It doesn't matter if the Celtics are the worst team in the league; fans will still come out and support, as generations of people find common ground in sharing their passion for Celtics basketball.
This season, winning Banner 19 may be out of the picture without Jayson Tatum. The mission for this year is to be a competitive playoff team in the East, like it always has been for the Celtics. But there should not be expectations of an NBA Finals run after losing key starters and role players in the offseason.
Even with lowered expectations, Celtics fans will still let their team know when they're frustrated, upset, or disappointed with the product being put out on the floor. The players realize this sooner or later after arriving in Boston. As a Massachusetts native, Georges Niang has a good idea of what to expect from Celtics fans entering his first season with the team. After all, he was the lone player acquired in return for Kristaps Porzingis, a player who quickly became a fan favorite among Celtics Nation.
Georges Niang Feeling Pressure Heading into First Season with Celtics
One of the newest Celtics recently went on The OGs Show, hosted by former NBA players Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem, to talk about his expectations heading into year one with Boston. After playing for Celtics rivals in the 76ers and Cavaliers over his career, Niang has not been a favorite among Boston fans, even though he's from Massachusetts.
Previous incidents with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have led to this, including when Niang grabbed JB's foot from the bench during a game in 2023. This past season when the 15-0 Cavaliers came to Boston for an NBA Cup Group Play game, Tatum crossed up Niang, hit a three at the third quarter buzzer, and said "**** outta here man" while walking back to the Celtics bench.
The good news is that Niang seems to have embraced being a Celtic now and understands that fans couldn't have been happy when the team traded a player of Porzingis' caliber for a 32-year-old who has had his hostile moments with the Celtics stars.
— Georges Niang on being traded to Boston:
— CelticsMuse (@CelticsMuse) July 23, 2025
"Im a Boston kid. They don't give a sh*t if i'm from Boston, they're like you just took my unicorn and replaced it with a mini van" 😭
"Now i'm in the mode like, obviously JT is out, you don't wanna be in Boston losing." pic.twitter.com/JeQ9bLB5gG
Growing up in Lawrence, MA, and playing his high school basketball at the Tilton School in New Hampshire, Niang had been around the area his whole life before heading to Iowa State University. He knows how Boston fans are and is attempting to become the best player and teammate he can be for this young Celtics team.
"So that's kinda how I've transitioned my mindset, like, okay, what can I do this summer? Can I come in the best shape that I'm in, and also you know, mentor and kinda teach, and also learn because they've won championships, and kinda dial that all into one, and focus every day on like, how can I win the day and then win games?"
After all of the offseason moves made by Boston, Niang should have a sizable role with the team as the starting power forward or one of the first options off the bench. A career 39.9% three-point shooter, Niang fits the bill for what the Celtics do best. It'll be worth monitoring if he survives the offseason in Boston, knowing the Celtics are slightly over the second-apron threshold right now.
It seems that Niang's feuds with the Jays are in the past. During the WNBA's Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun game on July 15th at TD Garden, Jaylen Brown and Niang were seen together, smiling and striking up conversations.
Niang has the chance to start for the Celtics this season after only starting 32 of 544 career games between the Pacers, Jazz, 76ers, Cavaliers, and Hawks. He could quickly become a fan favorite now that he's a Celtic, ascending into a leader without Tatum on the floor for next season.