Oshae Brissett talks Celtics departure, NBA free agency, and return to basketball

PORTLAND — It had been just over seven months since Oshae Brissett stepped on a professional basketball court. 

Then, it was under the snowfall of green and white confetti. He proudly held up a camera, capturing the moment he won an NBA Championship with the Boston Celtics for his YouTube Channel, BrissyTV. On Sunday, January 19, it was in Portland, Maine, suiting up for the Long Island Nets.

Brissett signed a G League contract with the Brooklyn Nets’ G League affiliate a few days prior, just in time to play against the organization he won a title with last year.

In between the two games is where the story lies.

“Coming off a summer like that, you're obviously at the highest highs, but for me, summer was more of like a 'taking it day by day' type of thing,” Brissett told Hardwood Houdini. “Working out, just controlling what I can control, kind of like how I've been taking my whole NBA career. Staying to myself, just working, obviously, doing the whole YouTube thing outside of basketball. 

“But other than that, really just been in the gym. Chilling with family. Enjoying that time for that. When you're in the midst of the season, you don't really get time to see your family. So, I was enjoying that time, but definitely glad to be back playing basketball.”

Oshae Brisett chose to leave Celtics in search of more playing time

In 55 appearances with the Celtics last year, Brissett logged just 630 minutes—his fewest since his second year in the NBA. A nose for the glass and well-timed cuts to the rim fueled his numbers, as he averaged 3.7 points and 2.9 rebounds.

After playing just 55 minutes in the playoffs for a Celtics squad with a stacked roster, Brissett had an important decision to make, and the power was in his hands. A $2.5 million player option meant that Brissett could have returned to Boston to run it back.

But he didn’t.

“It was definitely more about playing time. I wanted to play,” Brissett said. “It's not starting or wanting shots or anything, but just being out there and helping the team. And obviously, I know I can, and they know that. 

“It was just, we have, or, I can’t stay we anymore, they have the best roster in the NBA from top to bottom. And I feel like a lot of people in the league know that. It's hard to crack that rotation. And like I said, no love lost. It's not a shot at anybody on the team. It's just the cards I was given. It was a great year last year, and I just wanted more for myself.”

Yet as the days of free agency slowly drifted away, the opportunity Brissett wanted never came. Well, at least not the one Brissett was after. 

“I feel like anyone in my position, it's kind of tough, right? Coming off a year where minutes were kind of up and down. Teams, you don't really know who I am as a player,” said Brissett. “And to put money into someone, you kind of have to trust that they're gonna be able to go out there and give that. And for that trust to be built, you have to watch them play. 

“There were talks of me going to training camps and stuff like that, but I've kind of been through a lot of that in my career, and I know how it goes. So again, it was finding the right situation for me, and I wasn't just about to jump on anything before I was confident in my decisions.”

Why Oshae Brissett waited so long for return to professional basketball

During the preseason and training camp, Brissett drew some interest from various places. But it wasn’t what he was looking for.

For teams, training camp is a great way to get a closer look at guys. Exhibit 9 and 10 contracts allow organizations to bring players in and fill out their G League rosters with intriguing talent.

For players, it’s effectively a long-shot tryout. The equivalent of a walk-on spot for a DI football program. Every once in a while, a guy will stick, but the process relies just as much on luck as actual skill and hard work. That’s why Brissett chose to bide his time.

“I've been through those before. I know how it goes,” Brissett said. “Once teams kind of have their guys and then other people kind of just tag on, it's kind of hard. You got to go in there and, honestly, kind of get lucky to crack that. And, like I said, I was waiting for the right opportunity to open up. 

“There were some teams where we were on the fence [about joining], but then something happened, so I was just like, 'Alright, let's just wait it out.'”

And for guys like Brissett, training camp can be even more difficult. The harsh restrictions of the new CBA forces teams to be more careful than ever when constructing their rosters.

Oftentimes, that means prioritizing young talent on cost-controlled, multi-year rookie contracts or proven players they are confident in. Fresh off a season where he didn’t accumulate regular playing time, Brissett wasn’t that.

It’s a tough space to be in, but not one Brissett gets upset with.

“Nah, nah. I learned early [that] you can be frustrated with those things, or you'll just drive yourself insane,” he said

In fact, his perspective on the subject may be the exact reason he was so comfortable waiting for the ideal situation before signing a new contract. 

“I feel like I always say it's tough to stay in the NBA more than get on a team,” said Brissett. “So, you kind of have to do what you do to stay there. And if teams don't like that, then you have to be content with that. You can't think about it too much. You're not gonna find the answers in that. 

“Trust me, coaches and GMs, they have their own plan, and players go in there, and you gotta just put your best forward. And if they don't want you, they don't want you, and you gotta be okay with that.”

As Brissett sat by the wayside, waiting for his chance to come, he knew what he wanted—to get back to the NBA. For him, that meant staying around the league.

“I wanted to stay in the NBA ecosystem. Overseas is not really a thought right now. I know that I'm an NBA player,” Brissett said. “I know I can play good minutes on an NBA team. And I'm confident in that. Not to say overseas is anything less than, it's just [that] I just know this is where I want to be right now with my skill set, my age, and who I am as a player. So, this is where I want to be.”

When the preseason wrapped up and the regular season began, Brissett was still teamless. So, he began looking at his options.

Staying in the G League meant that he could get a blend of what he wanted: Regular playing time and as close to the NBA as possible without actually being on a roster. From there, it was just about finding the right situation, and that’s what he found with Long Island.

“There's been some talks, for sure. It's just [that] me and my agent were trying to find the best fit,” Brissett said. “You don't want to just jump into any situation. And for me, it was more about, obviously, the right timing and playing. 

“I wanted to get out and be around guys who wanted me to be myself, and those are the kind of conversations I had with the Nets guys before I signed. So, it was more, more of that.”

Oshae Brissett doesn't regret leaving Celtics

The seven-month break between games was a meticulous, carefully devised plan. Brissett didn’t skip any steps. He worked on his game, assessed the opportunities available to him, and didn’t settle for anything less than what he thought was right.

Yet, peeking back in the rearview mirror of hindsight, all that time could have been spent with the Celtics. Had he accepted his player option, he would (barring a hypothetical trade) still be with Boston to this day.

But regret has no place in Brissett’s mind. He stands by the decision he made this past offseason, and he still loves everyone in the Celtics locker room.

“No, I don't live my life like that, man,” Brissett said, regarding whether or not he wishes he accepted his player option. “Everything that happens happens for a reason. I was confident making that decision, and right now, I'm still confident. 

“I love those guys. I talk to all of them all the time. So, there's obviously no love lost. Brad [Stevens] and Joe [Mazzulla], they definitely understood.”

With the Celtics, Brissett was a perfect utility man. A clutch rebound here, a loud dunk there. He gave Boston sparks in big-time spots throughout the course of the regular season.

And, perhaps more importantly, he’s the type of player the Celtics loved having in the locker room.

“I worked with him every day last year, and I just love the kid,” said Maine head coach Tyler Lashbrook, who was a player development coach in Boston last season. “He's just a really good person. Just a really good person. A good father, good teammate, all those things. And sort of did all the stuff that we asked him to do. And was just a good presence to be around.”

Unfortunately for Lashbrook, Brissett was on the other bench on Sunday afternoon.

“I was happy to see him back out there on the court,” Lashbrook said. “He made a couple of big plays against us, which was unfortunate for us. But he got that and-one three [and] got a couple of offensive rebounds, which you knew he would do. And I was just happy to see him, honestly.”

Brissett’s Nets took down the Celtics in a 109-91 win. The 26-year-old forward played 20 minutes off the bench and put up eight points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals. He was a +21 on the afternoon.

Though a G League stint may not be what Brissett envisioned when he decided to become a free agent over the summer, his confidence is louder than ever.

He knows what he can bring to an NBA team, and he’s eager to show it off.

“I feel like I've worked on my game a lot this summer to be more of an all-around player,” said Brissett. “Obviously, I know every team has their stars and that you kind of have to fit in where you fit in, but for me, I feel like I can play really well off of any player in the league. I feel like my basketball IQ is really high. So, whatever situation I'm thrown in, I feel like I'll be able to figure it out on the fly. 

“So, just an all-around player, defensively and offensively. Someone you can count on. Really, really, reliable. That's what I kind of hang my hat on.”

And though Brissett has moved on to beating the Celtics rather than suiting up for them, he’ll share a connection with Boston that will last forever. Banner 18 now hangs proudly in the TD Garden rafters.

Oshae Brissett's White House visit and thoughts on current Celtics

As Brissett mentioned, he still talks to the guys to this day. Mainly, Jayson Tatum. “We talk a lot,” Brissett said. “Just about anything. Not basketball, just life stuff.”

In fact, Tatum was at the center of Brissett reconnecting with the 2023-24 Celtics.

Brissett joined the Celtics at the White House for their championship visit. During an edition of his Brissy Files vlogs, he revealed that Tatum invited him to join the team in Washington, DC.

But he didn’t even know it was happening until Tatum told him.

”He texted me, he said, 'Are you gonna be there Wednesday? And I said, 'What the hell's going on Wednesday?’” Brissett said with a laugh. “And he said, 'We're going to the White House.' So I was like, 'No.' 

“And then [Director of Team Operations] Kara [Keena] texted me and said, 'Hey, if you're free, we'll get your flight.' And I said, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa.' So I was like, 'Yeah, for sure.' I wasn't doing nothing. So, I flew out. It was cool.”

The Celtics flew Brissett out so he could suit up (literally) and celebrate their championship as a team. Svi Mykhailiuk, who signed with the Utah Jazz over the summer, was the only member of the 2023-24 roster not in attendance.

There, Keena gave Brissett his championship ring, and he got to enjoy the unique experience of visiting the White House.

“Surreal, man,” he said. “Everything in the White House looked staged. Like a prop. It was just a weird experience. It was cool, really, really cool, obviously, seeing those guys and being there, but being in the White House itself was an experience I never thought that I would have a chance to do. 

“So, like I said before, I was super grateful that they thought of me and allowed me to be there. But, yeah, it was a great experience.”

With the White House visit having come and gone, Brissett is now 1-0 with his new squad. His first victory, an 18-point win in Portland.

Just 110 miles south, his former squad hasn’t been so fortunate. The Celtics haven’t won back-to-back games in over two weeks, and their last defeat was a mismanaged botch-job against the Atlanta Hawks.

But for those worries about the current state of affairs in Boston, Brissett offered an inside look into how the Celtics are likely feeling.

And he’s confident that they are confident.

“I mean, from watching, I know that they're not worried at all,” Brissett said. “I know that they know they have the skill set to do exactly what they did last year. But it's something that they said, Jayson, Jaylen [Brown], and Joe, everybody said kind of—this season, they know they have a target on their backs. And every team is going to give them their best shot. And that's exactly what they're experiencing now. And they're going to figure it out. 

“I don't think anyone over there is worried, and I don't think fans should be worried at all either. Obviously, different from last year. Last year, kind of steamrolling teams. Now, like I said, everyone's giving them their best shot. They'll be fine.”