Jayson Tatum headlines group outing as Joe Mazzulla (of course) locks into every second.
If Wednesday night was about statement basketball, Thursday turned into something a little different for the Boston Celtics (48-24) - a reminder of just how visible this group has become beyond the parquet.
Less than 24 hours after knocking off the Oklahoma City Thunder (57-16) and snapping their 12-game win streak, the Celtics took a field trip down to Foxborough. What started as a quick pregame appearance at Gillette Stadium turned into a full-team experience, with players and staff - including head coach Joe Mazzulla - spending time on the field before settling in to watch Brazil vs. France from the suite of Robert Kraft.
And yes, if you’re wondering: Mazzulla was absolutely locked in.
Not casually watching. Not half-checking his phone. Locked in.
Which, honestly, should surprise no one who has watched him coach a random Tuesday game in February like it’s Game 7 of the Finals.
The Celtics’ presence was hard to miss.
Jayson Tatum took part in the pregame festivities, even handling coin-toss duties, while the rest of the roster mingled on the field as two of the sport’s global heavyweights warmed up.
It was a rare crossover moment - one of the NBA’s premier teams stepping into the spotlight of an international soccer stage.
And it felt earned.
Boston is fresh off a win that looked a lot like its ceiling. After a sluggish first quarter against Oklahoma City, the Celtics flipped the game behind Jaylen Brown’s second-half takeover and a much-needed offensive rhythm that had been missing in recent outings.
It was the kind of performance that reinforces what this group can be when everything clicks.
From Kraft’s suite, the Celtics watched a match headlined by Kylian Mbappé, who delivered one of the night’s defining moments in France’s 2-1 win. It wasn’t basketball, but it was still high-level competition - the kind this Celtics team clearly appreciates.
Because that’s the through line here.
Whether it’s a late-March showdown with a title contender or a global exhibition match in Foxborough, this group leans into the moment.
And apparently, watches it together, too.
Dec 12, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) poses for a picture and exchanges jerseys with Brazil Mens National Soccer Team player Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa during warm ups before the start of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden. Mandatory (David Butler II/Imagn Images)JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
Remember to join our CELTICS on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Celtics fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!
Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.