Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell landed in an ideal environment to grow their games. The Boston Celtics' rookies are already benefiting from an elite player development program.
The team immediately tailored a plan to them. The day they arrived in Boston, they got to work. How the two have built on that since Summer League is a stepping stone that will help them maximize their first season with the organization.
For Cenac, his workouts have focused on the versatility he showcased in Las Vegas. With Mitchell, it's primarily about improving as a shooter. He's already making encouraging strides on that front.
How Chris Cenac Jr. is preparing for his first Celtics season
At training camp on Friday, Boston's first-round pick in this year's NBA Draft specifically highlighted three-point shooting and shot blocking. Those two areas could be the bedrock of his game.
The Celtics like his shooting mechanics. They can sharpen that skill without adjusting his form. At a minimum, they haven't made any significant changes.
At the other end, he's a mobile six-foot-11 stretch-four/center with a 7'5" wingspan and massive hands. He has considerable upside as a shot blocker, especially a weak-side rim protector. As Amile Jefferson, his head coach in Sin City, said, Cenac oozes potential.
How Dillon Mitchell is preparing for his first Celtics season
Friday at the Auerbach Center, the former St. John's standout said that, despite the rumors, returning to college for a fifth season wasn't something he seriously considered.
"None. Not really," conveyed Mitchell. "I'm here. I've worked hard to get here. Just the development side of it, I thought, just the few months I've had here was enough for me. I want to be here. Like I said, I've worked hard to get here. So it was an easy decision."
It has also allowed him to continue building on the progress he's making with his shot. Releasing the ball on the way up has been a point of emphasis. That adjustment helped Boston's second-round pick go from making one three in his final collegiate campaign to converting on 3/8 attempts at Summer League.
The six-foot-eight wing is also focusing on learning his NBA club's concepts and acclimating to the pace they want to play at. Mitchell's athleticism stands out regardless of who he's on the floor with. With the Celtics projected to play faster, he should fit right in.
What Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell are learning from their new teammates
Boston's 2026 draft class spent time training with Jayson Tatum and Paul George this summer. Mitchell said it was great to see how those two approach every day.
As one of the NCAA's best perimeter defenders during his collegiate career, the rookie wing also relished the chance to guard them.
As for Cenac, he shared that he's picking the brains of Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson a lot lately. Those conversations have centered on how physically his veteran teammates play. He's also learning from them about how they run the floor and rebound. They're both highly impactful on the glass. Robinson is the best offensive rebounder in the NBA since he arrived.
It's a prime example of how, along with being in an elite player development program, Cenac and Mitchell's veteran teammates are helping fuel the maturation of the Celtics' rookies.
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