Kevin McHale, a Celtics legend and NBA Hall of Famer, is well-acquainted with winning championships on Causeway Street, having secured three titles during his 13 seasons with Boston. McHale, who earned seven All-Star selections and was integral to some of the greatest Celtics teams, recently praised the 2023-24 Celtics for winning the franchise’s 18th title.
In an interview on SiriusXM NBA Radio, McHale emphasized that the key factor for the Celtics’ success this postseason was the development of their star players, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. He noted their significant maturation, which was evident throughout their championship run.
After a disappointing playoff performance in 2023, Brown emerged as a crucial player this season, earning both Eastern Conference Finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP. Despite Tatum struggling with his shooting during the Finals against Dallas, hitting only 38.8 percent of his shots, he contributed in other ways, averaging 7.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game in the five-game series.
McHale was impressed by Tatum’s ability to adapt, stating, “Tatum made passes and played within the flow of the game, not just for his numbers.” He commended both Tatum and Brown for moving beyond focusing on personal stats to playing effective, team-oriented basketball. McHale expressed his pride in their growth and performance, which ultimately led to the Celtics’ triumph.
