BOSTON — When first-year Boston Celtics Paul George and Mike Conley retire, they will be remembered as basketball greats. George, a nine-time All-Star, is likely headed to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Conley has only made one All-Star team, yet he accomplished enough with the Memphis Grizzlies during the prime of his career to have his number retired at FedExForum one day. But, when George and Conley finally call it quits, will they be remembered as NBA champions?
That question isn't just a hypothetical. George and Conley have thought about it themselves since neither player has won a title before. When the two vets were introduced to the Boston media on Tuesday morning at the Auerbach Center, Conley mentioned his hunger for a championship
and how that craving — shared by George — can empower the Celtics.
Paul George and Mike Conley: Welcome to Boston pic.twitter.com/EeyJwdLEJ4
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) September 15, 2026
"The urgency I think that even myself and Paul got to bring for this team is two guys who haven't had a chance to win a championship yet," Conley said. "So, it's that sense of urgency that maybe reignites that for the guys who have been on this team who've already won it to continue to push them every day, continue to show them how bad we want to win in practices and try to translate that to games."
Over the course of his 19 seasons in the Association, Conley has been a part of more than a dozen playoff runs. However, he's still never even reached the NBA Finals. Meanwhile, Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh, and Neemias Queta won a championship together in 2024 when they were all under the age of 30.
George has gotten a little closer to the promised land than Conley, but the California native has also never made the Finals. At 36 years old, and with plenty of wear and tear on his body, George has already thought about his basketball legacy. When fans discuss who the greatest players were from the 2010s and beyond, he doesn't want them harping on the fact that he's ringless.
"I believe I am a winning player," George stated at the podium. "I'm a guy that when it's all said and done, where my legacy falls, being compared to guys in my category, I've yet to to have something to show for it. So for me, that's that's where that chip lies on my shoulder."
Paul George’s message to fans and how he knows he’s not exactly filling in for Jaylen Brown:
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) September 15, 2026
“I think I can come in and kind of still keep us in that contention and give us a chance to win.” pic.twitter.com/LRNXcUDnIB
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla and Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens don't see the absence of championship pedigree from George and Conley as a red flag. Rather, they view it as a source of motivation that can inspire them and the rest of the Celtics.
"Mike and Paul have a different perspective of not getting there yet, and that desperation," Mazzulla said while sitting next to George and Conley. "And we need to be able to leverage it as a team, and that's where they could lead and help us."
When the Celtics traded for center Kristaps Porzingis ahead of the 2023-24 season, they were acquiring a former All-Star with an impressive resume — yet no ring. Regardless, Porzingis was able to help the Celtics get over the hump during the 2024 NBA Finals despite his lack of championship experience.
Jaylen Brown spars with Kristaps Porzingis and then talks about his impressive legacy in Boston:
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) October 16, 2025
“No matter what they wanna say about me, my name is gonna be forever written in Boston Celtics history as a champion, as an MVP.”
(Via Starting 5 on @Netflix) pic.twitter.com/hEpjBZfwzr
Boston is hoping for a similar trajectory with George and Conley. Although the former should play more of an active role in the quest for a banner due to his status and age, both seasoned vets have something to offer.
The Celtics do, too. Their reputation for winning precedes them, and perhaps George and Conley can feed off that.
"It's almost like a kind of rebirth — or (to be) reborn again — to be in the system, be in a winning culture, a winning environment," George described of coming to Boston.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Mike Conley, Paul George look to leverage championship desperation to help Celtics
