BOSTON — They say health is wealth, and if that's the case, the Boston Celtics haven't exactly been flushed with cash to start the past few seasons. After winning it all in 2024, the C's started the 2024-25 season without center Kristaps Porzingis, as he was still recovering from a leg operation he underwent during the offseason. A year later, the Celtics weren't at full strength once again because superstar forward Jayson Tatum needed to overcome the herculean hurdle that is recovering from an Achilles rupture.
Boston was able to put together solid seasons despite those two initial injuries, yet neither campaign culminated in a title. The Celtics are hoping for a better result heading into the 2026-27 season, and a clean bill of health could
help with that.
Jayson Tatum is back and off the initial injury report
The very first question Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens fielded during Media Day on Monday morning was about the Green Team's health entering training camp. Stevens simply tapped on the podium table twice — his way of knocking on wood for luck — and confirmed that the Celtics were healthy for the moment. The ensuing interviews backed up Stevens' gesture.
"I feel great," Tatum replied when asked about his health status. "I feel great having this offseason to get stronger, get more explosive. We're just working my body in totality. So, obviously, I feel much better than I did this time last year, and I'm excited and thankful for that."
Blowing a 3-1 lead to the rival Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs was, to say the least, embarrassing for the Celtics. However, this early exit gave Boston a longer offseason. The C's hadn't lost in the first round since the shortened 2020-21 season, providing Tatum with his biggest summer break in several years (if not his entire NBA career).
Mitchell Robinson is ready to play more
Fellow Celtic Mitchell Robinson didn't enjoy as long of an offseason. He was busy with the New York Knicks, who spent June chasing, and winning, a title during the 2026 NBA Finals. A few weeks later, the 7-footer signed with the Celtics on a three-year, $47 million deal.
Although the former Celtics rival has experienced plenty of injury issues throughout his eight-year career in the Association, he took to social media in September to tell his followers that he was taking recovery more seriously this summer. His comments during Media Day maintained that promising claim.
"I feel very confident in myself," Robinson said of his commitment to playing more minutes. "I've been working on my body this whole summer, figuring things out, and I'm very confident in myself right now."
Celtics center Mitchell Robinson sounds ready to go for the reg. season:
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) September 12, 2026
“Right now, I’m just so confident in myself…I feel like this is going to be a great year for me. As you can see, I’m starting to take recovery a lot more seriously.”
(Via @23savage____ on Snapchat) pic.twitter.com/PsMN5gqC5E
Paul George feels healthy enough for a fresh start
Robinson isn't the only first-year Celtic feeling stronger than ever. Nine-time All-Star Paul George spent his introductory presser highlighting that his body (especially his knee) has naturally healed. This is important news for Boston, as many fans wondered whether or not the guy former Celtics star Jaylen Brown was traded for in early July was even healthy.
George didn't get injured during his second playoff run with the Sixers, in fact, he put on an impressive performance that played a part in eliminating the Celtics. But, injuries have followed George throughout his time in the league, so caution and concern were reasonable reactions to the aforementioned trade.
"The fact of the matter was, I wasn't healthy," George said of his status the last few seasons. "I was trying to play through injuries and be available and give everything that I had to the team when maybe I probably should have took a little more time off to let my body fully heal."
Due to injury and an injury-related suspension, George never participated in more than 50 percent of a regular season with the 76ers. Moreover, he's only played over 60 games in a single season once in the last seven years.
Boston offers the 36-year-old a chance at a fresh start — and maybe a shot at his first NBA championship.
Paul George on others underestimating him at this point in his career and people calling him “washed”:
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) September 28, 2026
“It’s not about going out and trying to drop 30 every night. I think it's more so about being available, being efficient, being consistent, and I think, again, for myself, just… pic.twitter.com/xIvZ1tpNoJ
"Since I've been here, it's one of those things where, man, I wish I was here a lot sooner," George said on Monday inside the Auerbach Center. "Not to discredit anywhere I've been, but since I've been here, it's just been nothing but happiness, greatness. It's just a great energy in this building, in this this facility, and so I'm looking forward to it. I'm happy to be in in green."
With Media Day concluded, the time for talk is nearly over. Now the Celtics can truly practice together in training camp and gear up for the 2026-27 opener, which takes place Tuesday, October 20. Hopefully the Celtics can be just as healthy as they are currently when that big day arrives.
"I think this will be a really good chapter in my career," George said.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics spend Media Day highlighting newfound health
