The Boston Celtics have been given a one-week head start on training camp as they and the Nuggets travel to Abu Dhabi on October 4 to open the NBA preseason (which disrupts the practice schedule).

Boston held its media day on Tuesday, and some interesting details emerged from an event that can seem scripted (for any team). Here are some highlights from Celtics Media Day.

Jaylen Brown “extremely motivated”

Championship teams can enter the next season somewhat overjoyed and overjoyed after a summer of celebration. It can be hard to get motivated for a Tuesday night game in November after playing for a ring in June and partying all summer.

These Celtics will be a little different. Jayson Tatum struggled with his shot during the NBA Finals and was then benched by Steve Kerr for two key USA games during the Paris Olympics, while Jaylen Brown felt snubbed by USA Basketball overall and didn’t get an invite to Paris even after Kawhi Leonard had to leave the team.

“(Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla) was probably the happiest person in the world that I wasn’t named MVP of the Finals and didn’t play in two games of the Olympics,” Tatum said. “So that was weird, but knowing Joe, it makes sense.”

While Tatum also said he didn’t need the extra motivation, Brown was much more direct.

“I am extremely motivated and ready to get started for obvious reasons.”

Both Tatum and Derrick White – who was named to Team USA as Leonard’s replacement in place of Brown – said they have spoken to each other and there are no problems between them.

Kristaps Porzingis aims to return in December

Porzingis missed part of the NBA Finals due to a torn retinaculum and a sprained posterior tibial tendon in his left foot/ankle and underwent surgery to repair the tendon shortly after the NBA Finals. On media day, he was asked about his recovery:

“I’m running, I’m on the court, shooting normally…” Porzingis said. “Honestly, I’m doing a lot of stuff. I’ve had a little bit of live contact, done some stuff and yeah, it felt really good afterward.”
That doesn’t mean we can expect him back soon, Porzingis told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne He hopes to return in December. However, the Celtics will have to be cautious about his return because they need him in April, not December.

Jayson Tatum says he can be better

Tatum said he spent the summer working with his coach Drew Hanlen on the technique of his jump shot, which was off during the Finals and the Paris Olympics (that’s one of the reasons Kerr benched him). Tatum said he expects to come back stronger than the MVP candidate we saw last season.

Al Horford is not thinking about retirement

He may be 38 years old and has already played 17 NBA seasons, but don’t ask Al Horford if he’s thinking about retiring.

“I don’t think there was ever any question that I wasn’t going to come back or anything like that,” Horford said. “For me, and I’ve said this before, I never put a limit on how long I’m going to play. So I feel good and I’m very happy to be in this position.”

Luke Kornet talks about his mortgage

You think you don’t want to hear about Kornet’s mortgage, but you do.