Brad Stevens may be firmly entrenched in the Celtics’ front office these days, but every now and then, he reminds us that his coaching roots still run deep.
On Friday, with the Celtics in Indianapolis to face the Pacers, Stevens took a brief detour down memory lane. The team practiced at Hinkle Fieldhouse - a building that holds a special place in Stevens’ basketball story.
Before he was Boston’s president of basketball operations - and before he was named the NBA’s Executive of the Year in 2024 - Stevens was the head coach at Butler University. It was at Hinkle where he helped turn the Bulldogs from mid-major underdogs into national contenders, leading them to back-to-back Final Four appearances in 2010 and 2011.
So it was fitting that Stevens found himself back on that same hardwood, this time not pacing the sidelines, but getting in some on-court work with Celtics star Jayson Tatum.
Tatum, who’s been sidelined all season with a ruptured Achilles, is in the thick of his rehab. And while he’s not yet game-ready, he’s clearly putting in the work. During Friday’s session, Stevens was spotted feeding passes to Tatum, who showed flashes of his old explosiveness - including a drive past Celtics assistant Tony Dobbins that ended in a dunk.
Now, Celtics fans have seen plenty of Tatum dunks over the years, but this one hit a little different. Seeing him elevate again - even in a practice setting - is a welcome sight for a team that’s been navigating the first 29 games of the season without its franchise cornerstone.
There’s still no definitive word on whether Tatum will return this season. Achilles injuries are tricky, and the Celtics are going to be cautious.
But what’s clear is that both Tatum and Stevens are locked in on the recovery process. The fact that Stevens is out there, actively involved in the workout, speaks volumes about the bond between the two - a relationship that dates back to Tatum’s rookie year, when Stevens was still on the sidelines as head coach.
It also says something about the culture in Boston. This is a franchise that doesn’t just talk about continuity and connection - it lives it. Whether it’s in the front office, on the court, or in a quiet gym at a historic Indiana fieldhouse, the Celtics are building something that extends beyond wins and losses.
And as Tatum continues to work his way back, don’t be surprised if we see more of these moments - reminders that Stevens, while now wearing a suit instead of a whistle, still knows how to be in the trenches with his players.