Following Friday night’s blockbuster trade, former Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns is now heading to the New York Knicks. Many are wondering if New York now has the talent to take down the reigning-champion Boston Celtics in a seven-game series.
However, it seems like the Celtics are not feeling threatened by this trade.
On Sunday, Boston had their first practice since the trade news. The session included activities like duck-duck-goose with the kids and wiffleball.
The Knicks have historically struggled as a franchise, but they have now assembled one of their most talented rosters in recent memory, only to have the Celtics enjoying themselves during practice.
Boston’s fun and games served a purpose as they invited their families to the practice before heading to Abu Dhabi for the preseason.
Coach Mazzulla mentioned the importance of balance and having the players’ families present to watch them compete.
This unconventional approach is not new for Mazzulla, who sees every opportunity as a learning experience. His players appreciate the chance to reset and have fun before getting serious in practice.
For Derrick White, the non-basketball activities are beneficial for learning and enjoying the process.
Mazzulla emphasized the hard work his players have put in since training camp started and the importance of setting a tone early on.
As for Towns joining a rival team, he received praise from some Celtics players, including Al Horford.
The focus for Boston remains on self-improvement and putting in the work every day, as echoed by Coach Mazzulla.
The Celtics will travel to Abu Dhabi on Monday to prepare for their preseason opener against the Denver Nuggets on Friday.
For more insights on how the Towns trade impacts the Celtics, listen to the latest episode of “How ‘Bout Them Celtics” with Jack Simone.
