View From The Rafters: Behind the Scenes with the Boston Celtics

At just 19 years old, Hugo Gonzalez has made the leap from the Euroleague to the NBA look easy. He explains how signing into the Real Madrid basketball program in Spain at nine years old, and growing up in the Euroleague world, helped to develop him beyond his years. Gonzalez also explains the similarities and differences between Euroleague ball and NBA ball, as well as the challenges of his move to the league. We also learn of the impact Hugo’s parents, who were both professional players overseas, had on him growing up, and how they led him through the process of growing up in the Real Madrid program. Last but not least, Hugo comments on the legend of Luka Doncic, who also played for Real Madrid and faced the Celtics in a preseason game back in 2015. 00:24: On joining Real Madrid at 9 years old04:25: On being teammates and roommates with Egor Emin, of the Brooklyn Nets, with Real Madrid05:28: Similarities between the Boston Celtics and Real Madrid06:25: Describing Euroleague basketball as the most tactical basketball in the world11:15: What else is in his offensive bag that we haven’t seen?12:12: Which is a stronger feeling for Hugo: his love for winning, or his hate for losing?13:15: How his parents, who both played professionally in Europe, helped to mold him growing up15:00: How he chose his first agent16:20: The legend of Luka Doncic within the Real Madrid program

Josh Minott joins VFTR on his birthday – and he’s bringing the gift of storytelling. The rising Celtics forward dives into his NBA journey, the grind of earning minutes on a championship-level roster, and why humor helps him stay locked in through the ups and downs of a season. He shares what wearing No. 8 means to him, how Celtics fans have embraced his energy, and why playing hard is non-negotiable. Minott also opens up about his role in Boston’s depth-driven rotation, learning through real NBA reps, playing alongside another sparkplug wing in Hugo Gonzalez, and feeding off team energy. He touches on what it’s like guarding star players (preparing for war), his Jamaican heritage, championship hunger, and the fiery dynamic between him and Joe Mazzulla. 00:18: A birthday surprise for Josh00:55: Navigating an inconsistent role on a deep roster02:45: Josh seeing his hard work pay off04:29: Building a winning routine05:34: Why Celtics fans fell in love with Josh’s energy08:20: The meaning behind No. 810:19: Playing alongside Hugo Gonzalez & feeding off team energy11:08: Defensive mindset: guarding the opponent’s best13:08: Jamaican heritage & hopes for Jamaican hoops17:45: Championship goals & fiery relationship with Joe Mazzulla

Celtics Legend Robert Parish joins the VFTR pod for a wide-ranging conversation on one of the greatest eras in Boston basketball history, while connecting it with the game today. Parish reflects on the unselfish culture of the 1986 Celtics, reconnecting with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, and what it meant to be a part of the original Big 3. He shares stories of the moment he knew how special that Celtics team would become, the hard lesson he learned when joining that team, and the underappreciated legacy of Cedric Maxwell. The Hall-of-Famer also dives into going head-to-head with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, winning titles with both Bird and Michael Jordan, and comparisons between the 1986 and 2024 championship teams. He gives his thoughts on why Jayson Tatum is a “generational talent,” and his view on Victor Wembanyama and the evolution of big men. From Celtics City nostalgia to a Maxwell Hall of Fame campaign, The Chief delivers honesty, humor, and timeless perspective on what makes championship basketball.  1:36 – What made the 1986 Celtics so special4:44 – Reuniting with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale6:21 – Cedric Maxwell’s overlooked impact8:08 – When Parish knew the Celtics were championship material10:14 – The origin story of No. 0012:11 – Jayson Tatum as a “generational talent”14:26 – Similarities between 1986 and 2024 title teams14:40 – Parish on load management & his games-played record19:30 – Battling Kareem & the most unstoppable big men22:48 – Winning titles with Bird and MJ, their different leadership styles28:54 – Cedric Maxwell’s Hall of Fame campaign

Remember when Isaiah Thomas popcorned Jaylen Brown’s car during JB’s rookie season? Isaiah Thomas does, and he tells the whole story here. IT joined the VFTR crew in studio during his recent trip to Boston to remember the glory days of when he and Celtics Nation first fell in love, and how it still feels like he’s on the roster. Thomas describes what it felt like to become a bona fide superstar for the Celtics during his 2.5 seasons in Boston. He became an MVP candidate. As a result, he earned some dream opportunities that he still remembers like it was yesterday, like hearing Shaq and Kevin Garnett respect and compliment him during a trip to the Inside the NBA studios, and his first experience as an NBA All-Star. 00:55: IT explains why Boston feels like home to him, and how it feels like he’s still on the roster05:30: Isaiah promises it felt “different” the first time he suited up for the Celtics at TD Garden07:00: IT touches on his height, at 5-foot-9, and how that supercharged his story09:00: Grande says IT was “the match to the flame” for those underdog teams10:50: Telling the story of a memorable trip to the Inside the NBA studios14:00: Remembering his first All-Star experience and being like “a kid in a candy store”17:00: What it was like playing with rookie Jaylen Brown20:45: IT tells the story of when he popcorned Jaylen Brown’s car at TD Garden23:50: IT plugs is hew podcast – the Point Game Pod

Luka Garza grew up an East Coast guy, and after eight years in the Midwest, is excited to be back after signing with the Boston Celtics this past offseason. He explains what separated the Celtics from other potential suiters in free agency, including the fact that some members of Boston’s front office still remembered his pre-Draft workout from 2021. Garza also dives into the astonishing lineage of athletic success in his family, and opens up about a life-threatening surgery he underwent heading into his sophomore year of college that led to a 10-pound cyst being removed from his abdomen.00:15: Living in downtown and settling into Boston02:10: On the drivers in Boston03:00: The Celtics have had an eye on Garza for a while05:50: Attractiveness of the Celtics’ player development program and what sets it apart09:10: On the developing chemistry of the new frontcourt with Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman11:50: The astonishing lineage of athletic success in his family, dating back decades16:05: Reliving a life-threating surgery that led to a 10-pound cyst being removed from his abdomen