What drew one of the NBA’s most experienced players to Boston this offseason? Culture and championships.
Mike Conley, who’s been in the league so long that he played against the Big Three Celtics in 2007-08, signed a veteran-minimum contract with the C’s this summer. The opportunity to join a historic, decorated franchise appealed to the veteran point guard, who enjoyed moderate success but limited prestige during his 19 seasons with Memphis, Utah and Minnesota.
“(The free agency process) was fairly quick, honestly,” Conley said Tuesday in his introductory news conference. “But the main reason, you look around the league, there’s very few organizations and teams that you look at that honestly are trying to win every year. The culture here in Boston speaks for itself. You know the championships, the banners, the fanbase — all that encompasses all of that. So looking around, I was like, ‘Man, what opportunities are out there for me?’ Boston was a real one, and having an opportunity to play for such a storied franchise — Joe (Mazzulla) and Brad (Stevens) and all the team, the guys, the players to the staff (are) A-1, top-notch.
“To have an opportunity to be a part of it and contribute to that and do what I can to help try to get that goal of the championship, which would be my first opportunity to try to do that, I just want to try to do it here.”
Conley mentioned that fact — that he’s never won an NBA title — multiple times during his presser, noting that fellow Celtics newcomer Paul George also is ringless. Conley has played in three Western Conference finals, including back-to-back trips with the Timberwolves in 2024 and 2025, but has never reached the NBA Finals since turning pro way back in 2007.
“Whenever I think of Boston, I think of a winner, a winning culture,” he said. “Since I was a kid, it’s been that way, since I was in the league. I was part of the league when (Kevin Garnett) and them guys won, and (Rajon) Rondo and them, and obviously the last one they won a few years ago. So yeah, you just think of that immediately. And like PG said, when you walk into the building, there’s a sense, there’s an atmosphere, there’s something that’s just a little bit different, and you find yourself in there two, three hours, not realizing you’ve been in there working that much, and it’s just a part of the culture.”
Most pundits do not view these Celtics as championship contenders after a turbulent offseason in which they traded one of their top stars, Jaylen Brown, for the older and injury-prone George.
Conley, though, said an NBA title should be their goal this season — and that it will be on players like himself and George to add “urgency” to that pursuit.
As for what else he’ll provide as a soon-to-be 39-year-old whose numbers dipped significantly last season (4.5 points and 2.9 assists per game on 33.5% shooting), Conley said he’s confident he can still contribute on the court. It’s likely, however, that his greatest impact will come off the floor, where he can help replace the likes of Brown and Al Horford (who departed last offseason) as a vocal leader.
Mike Conley Jr. answers questions from the Boston media during a press conference Tuesday. Nancy Lane/Boston Herald
He’ll certainly bring experience. His 1,226 career games (including 1,143 starts) rank fourth among active players behind LeBron James, DeMar DeRozan and Jeff Green.
“I’ve been impressed just being in the building for the last few weeks,” Conley said. “There’s so many things I’ve learned. I’ve learned a lot about the culture around here, a lot about how things operate on a whole different (level) than I’ve even operated as a player throughout my 19, 20 years. So, a lot to take from that. At this stage, at 20 years, you want to say you feel the same as you did when you were younger. But you grow. As you get older, you understand what you can bring at different points of the year.
“I’ve still got a lot left. I still can do it on the court, off the court. Leadership is one thing I know I can bring, and the urgency that even myself and Paul have to bring to this team as two guys that haven’t had a chance to win a championship yet. So it’s that sense of urgency that maybe reignites that for the guys who have already won it to kind of continue to push them every day and continue to show them how we want to win, at practices, and try to translate that to games.”
Conley is expected to slot in behind top guards Derrick White and Payton Pritchard on the depth chart. Undrafted rookie Milos Uzan and former Providence College star Devin Carter, a 2024 lottery pick who signed a training camp tryout contract on Monday, will also compete for roster spots this preseason.
Robinson absent
The Celtics initially planned to introduce their three veteran additions together on Tuesday, but Mitchell Robinson was a late scratch. The former New York Knicks center had to leave Boston earlier in the day to attend to a personal matter, according to the team.
Stevens said George, Conley and Robinson have brought a “presence” to the Celtics facility as the team prepares for training camp, which begins Tuesday, Sept. 29.
“When Mitch came into the building for the first time, first of all, it’s kind of jarring how big he is, obviously,” Stevens said. “It’s good we don’t have to block him out. That’s part of a new team, and there’s an excitement and anticipation any time there’s a new team.”
Not focused on Philly
The Celtics’ decision to trade Brown to the 76ers helped pave the way for Philadelphia to also add James this offseason. Stevens was asked whether he weighed the risk of strengthening a division rival before finalizing the deal.
“Yeah, our focus is on us,” he replied. “Our focus is on us, and obviously we look forward to any challenges. Obviously, there’s a lot of good teams all around the league, but we have to do what we think is in the best interest of us, both in the short and long term, and so that was the decision. We went through that in July, and today is about Mike, Paul and Mitch, who’s not here, and making sure that we are ready to put our best foot forward.”
Boston and Philadelphia will play each other twice this preseason (home on Oct. 10, away on Oct. 16) and four times during the regular season.