On Day 1 of Celtics training camp, Joe Mazzulla shared what he wants to see from Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell in the weeks leading up to the regular season.
Boston's head coach is asking the two rookies for effort and a willingness to improve. If they do that, the team's 2026 draft class should be just fine.
Fortunately, a strong work ethic is part of both individuals' foundations. As Cenac told Hardwood Houdini at Summer League, his parents instilled that in him. His father, Chris Sr., and his mother, Sharita, work in an array of roles. That includes owning a plumbing company, working in real estate, and helping orchestrate events like NBA All-Star Weekend and the WWE's WrestleMania. This is someone who, after transferring to Link Academy, a rising basketball powerhouse, arrived late at night but still went and got shots up.
As for Mitchell, like he told Hardwood Houdini in Las Vegas, he arrives in Boston ready to "be a sponge and learn, and just literally play my heart out on that court. Willing to die for it." His character and work ethic helped him become a McDonald's All-American and a team captain in his lone year at St. John's.
Why the Celtics believe in Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell
The organization is betting on these two's character and athleticism. Putting people like this in an elite player development program and one of the best infrastructures in sports gives them a real chance to maximize, or at least come close to unlocking, their full potential.
At the University of Houston, Cenac thrived in head coach Kelvin Sampson's hard-nosed program. A five-star recruit, ranked seventh in his class, choosing such a demanding program speaks volumes about his drive.
As their Summer League head coach, Amile Jefferson, said, Cenac has immense upside. His mobility for a six-foot-11 stretch-four/center stood out to his bench boss in Sin City. Pair that with a pterodactyl-like 7'5" wingspan, 9'0.5" standing reach, and massive hands, and this year's 27th overall pick has the tools to be an outstanding rim protector, especially rotating from the weak side.
Meanwhile, Mitchell's name is always in the conversation for best athlete on the floor. At times, it feels like he's hovering in the air. He glides upon takeoff. In college, he was also one of the top perimeter defenders. And he's already improving as a shooter. He is quickly applying the advice from Boston's coaching staff to release the ball on the way up. He went from making one three in his final year in the NCAA to knocking down 3/8 attempts in Las Vegas.
These are smart individuals with impressive physical traits, even relative to their peers. They don't just have considerable upside; Cenac and Mitchell have the mental makeup and work ethic to reach those heights.
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