Sports
Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Celtics embrace challenge of repeat
Jun 17, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) and guard Jaylen Brown (7) celebrates with the Larry O’Brian Trophy after beating the Dallas Mavericks in game five of the 2024 NBA Finals to win the NBA Championship at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images Not long after the Boston Celtics won the NBA title in 2008, some new wall decor went up at their practice facility in Waltham, Mass.
It was a banner. An 18th one. But it stood out from the rest. It was completely blank, its story not yet written.
For well over a decade, that blank canvas showed that the Celtics’ most important championship was simply the next one. Players came and went, as did coaches, but Banner No. 18 was always there, even when the team opened up a new practice facility in Boston, the Auerbach Center, in 2018.
Suddenly it wasn’t just the Celtics who were constantly being reminded of the ultimate goal, it was the people of Boston, too. Thanks to the Auerbach Center’s 40-foot glass wall that nearly hangs over Interstate 90, commonly known as the “Mass Pike,” passersby could catch a glimpse of the blank banner in its new home.
Massachusetts drivers certainly didn’t improve their reputation with such a distraction, but with the banner on display daily, an entire state started to fully buy into the Celtics.
And it all ended up paying off.
Boston secured that coveted 18th title by beating the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on June 17, just two days before the six-year anniversary of the Auerbach Center opening its doors.
It had also been 16 years to the day since the Celtics went all the way in 2008.
Now Boston heads into the 2024-25 campaign as the defending champion, and it also finds itself as the betting favorite to go back-to-back.
However, that means nothing to Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla.
“I think the word ‘defend’ is a very passive-aggressive term,” Mazzulla said on the “Locked on Celtics” podcast. “You go back to the animal kingdom, some of the strongest animals don’t defend, they’re the most aggressive and they attack the most.
“… We’ve gone into a season not winning and we’ve gone into a season winning. At the end of the day, your mindset can’t change. You have to understand what goes into winning and losing, you have to understand the mental toughness that goes into it and you have to commit to the details on a daily basis.”
Among those savoring Boston’s 2024 title run the most are Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, who went through plenty of trials and tribulations with the Celtics before getting their hands on the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Brown, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, and Tatum, selected third overall a year later, came up short in the Eastern Conference finals in two of their first three seasons playing together. Then they guided Boston to the Finals in 2022, but when they returned to the Auerbach Center that fall, a blank banner still was hanging for all of Massachusetts to see because of Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
Then came the 2023 playoffs, where the Celtics once again reached the Eastern Conference finals only to fall into a 3-0 hole against the Miami Heat. No NBA team had ever rallied from such a deficit in a seven-game series, and it was Brown who provided a rally cry for Boston.
“Don’t let us win tonight,” Brown said before Game 4, issuing a warning to Miami.
The Heat didn’t listen, and the Celtics went on to even the series to set up a Game 7 in Boston. History was never made, though, with the energy getting sucked out of TD Garden when Tatum rolled his ankle just 26 seconds into the contest.
Tatum was hobbled for the rest of the game, the Celtics never recovered and Miami punched its ticket to the Finals with 17 banners overhead.
Beating Dallas back in June made all of those ups and downs worth it in Tatum’s eyes, but the five-time All-Star realizes that Boston can’t take its foot off the gas. Last season was last season, and now the Celtics are back to square one.
“It was just an incredible feeling,” Tatum told Sports Illustrated. “Winning a championship, understanding all the hard work and sacrifice that went into making that goal a reality and understanding how it made you feel the night that you won a championship, the parade, all of it was worth it.
“And the unique part, and the cool part is, right now, it’s the start of the season, and we gotta start over. We gotta build it up from the ground and not look forward to June.”
In Boston’s front office, “2024 World Champions” now graces the lower half of an 18th banner that hangs in a glass case. Next to it is Banner No. 19. Blank. Patiently waiting to have its story written, too.
The Celtics might be back on top, but the message remains the same. The most important title is the next one. And if Boston plans to follow the ways of the animal kingdom, chances are it won’t be long until it has its sights set on Banner No. 20.
–Nick Galle, Field Level Media
Sports
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Oct 1, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during game two of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images LAS VEGAS — Entering her eighth season in the WNBA, Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson is poised to build on what was arguably the most dominant individual campaign in league history.
Wilson joined Cynthia Cooper (1997) as the second player in league history to win a unanimous MVP award and joined an exclusive club as the fourth player to win the award three times. She averaged 26.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game last season and set the all-time single-season mark for points (1,021) and rebounds (451).
Unfortunately for Las Vegas, injuries and fatigue from their two previous championship runs mounted and resulted in the team’s worst regular-season record (27-13) since 2019. The Aces’ three-peat hopes ended with a 76-62 home loss to the New York Liberty to drop their semifinal series 3-1.
It’s that loss on her home floor that served as Wilson’s motivation this offseason.
“Losing sucks, especially on your home court,” Wilson said “It still kind of burns a little bit, but I’ve used that as fuel to help my teammates understand how hard it is to win in this league. Yes, we can celebrate the two championships. They were great. But for us to move forward, we have to understand how hard this league is and value the basketball and the little things. I think that’s what we lacked last season, so we’re going to make sure that we can show up better than we did.”
While the Aces appeared to be on top of the world heading into their potential three-peat campaign in 2024, the reality inside the locker room was that both the internal and external pressure to win another championship had become suffocating. A common theme across media day was the fact that the team feels less pressure entering the 2025 season, a sentiment Wilson shared as the unquestioned leader of the team.
“(Three-peat talks) obviously impacted us, because it’s like, y’all think we don’t want to win? We’re trying as well,” Wilson said.
“I would definitely say it’s refreshing this year. I feel like this is one of my only years where it feels like there’s no weight. There’s a lot of weight to be defending champs. It’s a lot of weight to be trying to win one. We don’t have that. We actually have a clean slate to really dial into getting back to who we are culturally, like, in our system and everything.”
Leading the Aces back to the top of the mountain for a third time in four years is one of a few historically significant achievements Wilson can collect this upcoming season. Wilson could also become the first four-time MVP in league history, though the meaning of that is something she hasn’t quite allowed herself to ponder yet.
“I haven’t given it much thought, but it would be a blessing to have my name in that conversation,” Wilson said. “Every year, I try to be better than I was the year before just to give myself a chance in this league. Because the league is getting better. We’re growing. At this point, you just want to maintain your stamina. You want to maintain your mental, all of that, because the season gets hard. I can’t think too much about that just yet, but I’m definitely going to try to be better than I was last year.”
As Aces coach Becky Hammon put it, fans can expect to see an even better version of Wilson this season.
“What I see is, she went and got better,” Hammon said. “Which is hard to do when you’re already the best, but it speaks to her work ethic, her desire and her mindset this whole offseason. We talked a lot this offseason. She’s a busy lady, but I can tell you what she always does is her workouts. She’s always getting her workouts in. That comes first and foremost, she never gets her priorities jumbled up.”
When Hammon was asked what a player like Wilson would possibly need to improve after last season’s campaign, the coach did not feel like revealing too much.
“There was (something for Wilson to improve), and she did,” Hammon said. “I’m not going to tell you what it was. Actually, there were two things.”
–Will Despart, Field Level Media
Sports
Jacob Wilson joins Aaron Judge in spotlight for Yankees-A's series
May 5, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) throws to first for an out against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images The top two hitters in the majors square off Friday night when the New York Yankees face the Athletics in the opener of a three-game series in Sacramento, Calif.
It’s no surprise to see Yankees star Aaron Judge off to a superb start after winning American League MVP honors last season. He has a major league-best .400 batting average and entered Thursday’s play tied for the big-league lead with 12 homers and 34 RBIs.
But who had Athletics rookie Jacob Wilson ranking second in the majors at .357 as the season nears the quarter pole? Wilson has played in just 64 career games and quickly has solidified himself as a future All-Star, perhaps even this season.
Sharing the marquee board with Judge seems quite surreal for the 23-year-old shortstop who was the No. 6 overall pick of the 2023 draft.
“It’s a great feeling, for sure,” Wilson said of his name being mentioned with Judge. “Obviously, everybody has seen what he is doing. It’s pretty incredible watching him do his thing on a daily basis. To be up there with him is pretty cool for me.
“I’m excited to play against him this week and see what it looks like in person.”
Wilson had his first career four-hit game during Wednesday’s 6-5 home loss against the Seattle Mariners and has six multi-hit outings in the past eight games. He went 8-for-14 with one game-winning hit in the three-game series against the Mariners and is 16-for-34 (.471) with four walks during the eight-game stretch.
The hot hitting led to Athletics manager Mark Kotsay moving Wilson to the leadoff spot on Wednesday. Kotsay indicated Wilson may be sticking at the top of the lineup.
“I think you’ll see Jacob up there now,” Kotsay said. “Jacob’s earned it. … Jacob has shown enough over the last week. He’s walking and taking pitches, and, obviously, swinging the bat really well.”
Judge arrives in Sacramento in the midst of a four-game funk in which he is 2-for-15.
The two-time MVP just went 1-for-10 in a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres, but the one hit was a homer.
Judge grew up 50 miles south of Sacramento in Linden and starred for Linden High but wasn’t highly sought by major league teams. The then-Oakland Athletics selected him in the 31st round in 2010.
Judge instead went the college route and starred for Fresno State. He was chosen in the first round (32nd overall) by the Yankees in the 2013 draft.
Trent Grisham was one of the heroes of Wednesday’s 4-3, 10-inning win over the Padres. He hit a tying two-run pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning.
Grisham had two homers and five RBIs in the series against the Padres — one of his former teams — and already has 10 long balls in just 89 at-bats. He hit just nine last season in 179 at-bats.
“I’m having fun with the guys, I would say that more than anything,” Grisham said. “The clubhouse is really good in here, led by Cap (Judge). So, I would say the guys have been the most enjoyable part.”
New York is starting right-hander Will Warren (1-2, 5.65 ERA) in Friday’s series opener. Right-hander Osvaldo Bido (2-2, 4.71) will be on the mound for the Athletics.
Warren, 25, struck out a career-high eight in 4 2/3 innings while losing to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. He gave up five runs (three earned) and seven hits. Warren hasn’t previously faced the Athletics.
Bido, 29, received a no-decision against the Miami Marlins last Saturday when he gave up four runs on three hits over five innings. He is winless (0-1) over his last three starts. Bido hasn’t faced the Yankees.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao coming out of retirement
Aug 21, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada; Manny Pacquiao (right) fights Yordenis Ugas in a world welterweight championship bout at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao plans to end his retirement and return to the ring on July 19 against Mario Barrios in Las Vegas, ESPN reported Thursday.
Pacquiao, 46, will be fighting for the first time since losing a unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas in 2021.
The fight will be for Barrios’ WBC welterweight championship belt. Barrios turns 30 on May 18.
Pacquiao is an eight-division champion who is slated to be inducted into the boxing Hall of Fame in June. He reportedly will formally announce his return to boxing next week. The report stated that Pacquiao has been cleared to compete by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
In recent years, Pacquiao has been focusing on his political career in the Philippines.
The boxer nicknamed “PacMan” has a 62-8-2 record with 39 knockouts during his career. He won his first major title — the WBC flyweight crown — at age 19 in 1998.
Pacquiao was 54-3-2 prior to turning 33 and 8-5 afterward. One of those losses was to Floyd Mayweather Jr. via unanimous decision in 2015, a bout that reportedly drew nearly $400 million in pay-per-view sales.
Barrios (29-2-1, 18 knockouts) fought to a 12-round, split-decision draw against Abel Ramos last November. This will be his third defense since winning the title by beating Ugas in 2023.
–Field Level Media
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
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