Boston Celtics Introduce Bill Chisholm and New Ownership Group
[Music] Heat. [Music] Hey, Heat. [Music] I [Music] a a [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] Hey, [Music] hey, hey. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Hey, [Music] a a [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. N. [Applause] [Music] [Music] a a a Heat. Heat. N. [Music] [Applause] Hey, [Music] hey, hey. [Music] Ah, [Music] a heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. N. [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] Hey everybody. [Music] Hey. Hey. Hey. [Music] Hey. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Hey, [Music] hey, hey. [Music] Hey, [Music] hey, hey. [Music] Hey, hey, hey. [Music] Hey, [Music] hey, hey. Oops. [Music] Good afternoon everybody and welcome. For those of you who may not know me, my name is Eddie Paladino. I am the in-game announcer and the voice of the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden. Thank you for joining us here at the spectacular training facility of the 18time NBA world champion Boston Celtics, the Hourback Center. At this time, it’s my pleasure to introduce the five gentlemen on the deis. From left to right, we will go Rich Gotham, Wick Grosc, Bill Chisum, Aditia Mitt, and Brad Stevens. At this time, I would like to call up to the to his microphone for some opening remarks from Bill Chisum. Bill. Thanks, Eddie. Can you hear me? All right. Yeah. Hi, everybody. All right. Here we go. So, I thought just maybe I’d start with uh some a little bit of open remarks um and then we can uh we can turn it to questions. So, um so first uh thanks obviously for joining us today. Uh, it’s an honor to be sitting up here with this group and um, as many of you probably know, I’m from here and I’ve loved the Celtics my entire life. My wife Kimberly and I have raised a family of diehard Celtics fans. The Chisum family are so grateful to be part of this Celtics organization, the greatest sports franchise in the world and the greatest sports city in the world. While this is a dream come true for me and my family, I also realize that with this opportunity comes a tremendous responsibility. My ownership group and I understand that is it is in fact different here and that we have a responsibility to protect and advance the legacy of the Boston Celtics. We recognize that the standards that the Celtics are held to on and off the court is unmatched. I believe that we are up to this challenge, but realize that we’ll need to prove it day in and day out by our actions and with our commitment to excellence. I want to thank Wick, Steve Pagluca, and the previous ownership group for their incredible stewardship of the franchise over the last 23 years. Their commitment to building winning teams while having a deep and lasting impact in the community is something I intend to emulate and do all I can to enhance. We’ve got an exceptional leadership team here with Wick Rich Gotham and Brad Stevens. The best group of minds in basketball as far as far as I’m concerned. We’ve got a terrific coach in Joe Missoula who’s already established himself at a high level and cares as much about any as cares as much as anybody about constantly, relentlessly improving himself and others. So, I’m here to do everything I can to help support this great team we have in place in our end pursuit of raising more banners and ensuring that the Boston Celtics are the best versions of ourselves on and off the court every day. Training camp begins in a few days and I can’t say I just can’t wait to see what this season will bring. Thank you. And now we’ll uh be glad to answer some questions. Questions? Hi. Um I’d like to start by just clarifying the power structure of the ownership group. There’s a a managing board of yourself and seven others. Correct. Correct. What is the voting power of that group? Do you hold final say or is there a possibility of a majority of the group voting one way and you voting a different way on basketball matters? Um I mean first I just say that um you know we’re my my approach to leadership and the way that we’ve I’ve approached that all my life is through consensus. Um, we’ve got a great team and you know both and you asked about basketball, but I’d also speak the same way about the business operations team as well. Um, so Brad and Rich are great leaders. Um, in the end of the day that the the there is, you know, I am accountable. Um, and there is a uh there’s a governor and the governor has the final say and that’s that’s me. So, just for clarification, if Brad Stevens comes to you with a a matter that requires ownership approval, whatever it is, what you say is what goes or if seven others on your board vote differently, it’s your opinion that matters on Yeah. I I think the the the way to think about it is um that when when when we’re kind of working through things, we’re doing that as a group and really Wick and myself uh are you know that that final gate, but ultimately I’m the one that’s accountable and to to be very clear, you know, that that is the final say. We all understand what a passionate Celtics fan you are and were even before this opportunity, but there are plenty of passionate people that share that and have a legitimate chance to go into ownership and don’t pursue that. What was it when this opportunity presented itself that made you say, “I have to go after this.” Yeah, maybe I’m just more passionate. Um I uh the Celtics have brought me joy my entire life. Um and um and I’m so grateful for what the the ownership of the group has done to this point. Um I feel like I have something to add here. U and um I’ve got tremendous people around me here. And uh ultimately this was you know this was an opportunity that was a dream a dream that uh that came true. And I can’t speak for other people but for me you know to have this chance I I I would have never forgiven myself if I didn’t uh didn’t go for it. And then whether it’s Wick or other owners around the league, who are some people who have given you advice and what is that advice that you quickly resonated and is a part of how you want to run this organization? Yeah, I mean it’s it’s things that are consistent the way I think about running any uh business, but it’s it’s consensus based approach. Uh it’s being patient. Um there is such a thing as a new owner curse. U and I’m well aware of that. Uh so and ultimately you know it’s kind of being self-aware in terms of what your strengths and weaknesses are and surrounding yourself with people that that are you know best the best people the best of the best and you know the way that decisions been made here to date that’s what you’re going to see going forward as well where you know those basketball decisions those are you know Brad is driving that for sure. question for Adida. Uh what drew you to joining this ownership group and what does it mean to you to become a part of the Celtics family? Sure. So, good afternoon. Uh I’m I’m truly excited and very humbled to be here. As some of you may guess, I was born in India, but I lived in grew up in Indonesia, which is miles away from Boston, maybe 8,000 miles away. But I had the chance to visit Boston in the late 80s. uh went to a game in the old garden. It was magical. I mean, I I fell in love with it. And when I heard uh from Wick uh that he’s thinking of expanding the partnership, I thought it was a phenomenal opportunity. Uh as all of you know, uh Wick has been a tremendous leader. Uh he’s a phenomenal role model. He really took the Celtic to new heights and we’re so happy that he’s continuing in this partnership uh with us. And he introduced me to Bill. And I remember having my first conversation with Bill and we went to the same university. He went to Wharton. I went to Wharton as well, undergrad. And we hit it off and I knew that this partnership will work. Uh, as you heard from Bill and his family, they’re fully committed to the Celtics. And we’re so happy to be riding and going uh on this journey with Bill and his family and the rest of the uh partnership group. Uh I think all of us will be true to the heritage of the Celtics. It has a very intelligent and smart competitive spirit. Uh a very loyal and passionate fan base including me, including all of us. And it pursues excellence in everything it does, right? Whether it’s on the court or the organization, as you can see, Brad is here, uh Rich is here, but also in what it does in terms of its community support, social justice. So, uh, I’m just truly excited, uh, humbled and honored to be here and look forward to the season and go get some more banners. Uh, yeah, Gary Wash from Boston Globe. Wick, um, what’s the fa past few months been like for you? Uh, kind of making this transition and what will be your role and what will you be doing over the next several years? Like what what what’s kind of the plan for you and what’s the story? Yes. Um, well, it’s been an 18-month journey uh for me. I found out my family had voted to sell the team uh their ownership in the team um about 18 months ago. And uh at the time I thought, well, if this was going to happen, um I hope we find a great new ownership group. And that dream has come true in my opinion. Um I said to every bidder that came through and I met with them all. I said, ‘I think the person who really loves it the most and wants it the most is going to win. It’s not going to be a financial decision. To actually win a bid like this, a global bid, you have to kind of go beyond probably finances, no offense, uh, and just go for love. And that’s what I did back in 2002 um, with my partners that that I that later came in. Um, and that’s what really Bill and his group did. and they came in and they and then we we finished out the raise together side by side. So, um these new owners uh really love it and that makes me personally happy because I love it. I’ve always loved it and I love it forever. Ameilia and I are staying in I’m staying in uh shoulder-to-shoulder as we’ve said with Bill u and then with the managing board. Um, I want a third ring and then I want a fourth one and uh I’ve got two. It’s a nice start. Uh, this group uh we are committed to getting it together. So, what it’s like for me, I’m actually re-energized. I love the fact that more than half the new group is actually the previous group rolling over. So, we’re we’re staying in, you know, in many ways um and being welcomed in and enthusiastically joining. So, it’s kind of a new partnership um building on the success of my great partners of the last 23 years who I you know appreciate and uh thank forever. So, there’s just lots of good feelings going on and it’s been a journey to get here and I’m couldn’t be happier. I guess Bill, what what do where do you where are you? Oh, hey. Hi. How do you see yourself as an owner? Are you sitting on the court side and yelling at the officials or are you you Was told me not to do that. He’s letting me handle the officials part. But but how how visible do you picture yourself and and in what ways do you plan to use that? Yeah, I mean I I’m a I’m a huge fan first of all. So I’m so excited to be there and you know that to have the best seat in the house frankly. So uh that’s fantastic. So I will absolutely be there. Um, I will do whatever it takes. Whatever the Boston Celtics need me to do. If they need me to be doing press conferences every day, I’ll do them. If they need me to stay out of the way, I’ll do that. Um, I feel like I have enough self-awareness to know where I could be helpful and and know where to get out of the way. And um, the the biggest thing I think I can bring is support to to the the folks on the on the stage here. As a passionate sportsman, you have to know that a lot of times when things go well, the players and coaches get the credit for it. And when things are in a down period that people are are pointing at the owner, are you ready for that and and what kind of that what that comes especially as somebody that I’m sure your friends are interested and so so forth. Are you ready for what the attention that that comes with that and that’s not always positive? Yeah, I think you you know you’re you’re um you take the the good with the bad and and um yeah, I mean I got I have to be accountable here and I’m signed up for that. I’ve thought long and hard about it. This took a year. I had a lot of time to think about it and um yeah, I I I believe I’m up for that challenge, but you know, I know it’ll be challenging at times and uh and I thought about that. My family’s thought about that and you know, we’re all in. Hey, Bill. Hey. I know you’re just getting going here, but a few weeks ago, your name was linked to a possible WNBA team here. Was that news to you? Was that something already on your radar? If you can just kind of clarify that. Yeah, I mean I first of all like I I think the Boston it should have a team. I mean this is like I said earlier this is the best sports city in the in the country and this is the birthplace of basketball. So we should have a team. Um yeah and and this is you know trying to get this this was getting this done and you know we’ve been at it now we’ve been in the seat for you know a month or so. Um it’s definitely something we’re going to look at. Uh, and I know the NBA is a process. We’ll we’ll do what we can to, you know, to expedite things, but there is a process there. And but philosophically, yeah, it it’s it’s it it makes so much sense. Bill in the very back, good to see you. Welcome back to Boston. Um, two-part question, I guess. Going back to your leadership style. Yeah. Um, how how involved do you intend to be on the day-to-day? And then just looking at the state of the team as you take over, how much patience are you preaching to the fan base, just knowing that your face of the franchise is working his way back to to get back to it? Yeah, I mean I I on the day-to-day uh I’m I I don’t I we have the right people in place to do, you know, to make those decisions. I want to be supportive of of Brad and Rich and their teams. I’ll do whatever it takes. Um on the um uh on the patience point, I would say uh I think patience is important and um I think there’s a there’s a there’s a strategy, there’s a game plan that we’ve kind of laid out here uh that I think makes a ton of sense. Uh, on the other hand, like I don’t and Brad says this and I completely agree. I don’t put any ceilings on on the team in terms of what can be accomplished and and we we need to get better every every single day. Um, even even without, you know, Jason on the court, you know, day one. So, Bill, Bill, uh, Eagle Tribune. Um, this is for Brad. Uh, under any ownership, this is a good gig. President of the Boston Celtics. Um, can you talk about what sold you on this meeting bill? What you heard from him that made this not just all right, I’m going to stay, but um, I’m in. I’m all in here. Yeah. Yeah, I mean I think first of all we’ve all been really lucky to be here and a number of our staff has has met the new ownership group throughout the last couple of months and spent more time with them in the last couple of days and you know as they know we have a number of people that spoke in those meetings that have been here you know 10 years 14 years 12 years in my case 20 years in Mike’s case like down the road like we’ve got a lot of stability and I think that’s largely due to the fact that, you know, Wick and his group, our ownership group, really, we all, and I said this earlier, we all shared results. We didn’t we there was never any fingerpointing. There was never any like, hey, things didn’t go our way or hey, things went this way because of me. It was all we all have a job to do. We all add to the add, you know, add our talents or our hard work or whatever together and then we put a team on the floor. We try to maximize that and then the results are what they are and we move forward, right? It was always about the next day. It’s always about the next task. It’s always about the next thing. And and so, you know, when you’re sitting in in these shoes, I think anytime you have major change, right, the first thing is is well, what will that change do to your dayto-day, right? And and I could care less about me, but like the 65 people that work here, Rich is 100 plus people that work downtown, you’re more concerned about that than anything else. And I think from day one um in meeting Bill um and and his group, the humility um the care, the passion was not just shown in the words, was not just shown in showing up at games or being on the front row. It was like, hey, like you’re empowered to do your job, you know, and and more so again for everybody in this building. And so anytime you go through significant change like that, I think that’s your first, you know, and you’re in some position of leadership, that’s your first concern. Um, and so that was that was answered with flying colors from day one. And that’s really all I cared about. Um, so and and you know, listen, we we know that we’re going to have hard decisions to make from a roster standpoint. We know we’re always going to have change. There’s always going to be hard times. There’s always going to be great times, but you just kind of you do you get through those things together and feel very supported that we’re all together. Brad, this question is also for you and sort of along those lines. Um, how much of a goal, if at all, for you guys is getting under the luxury tax? I think you’re roughly about 12 million uh above it. And what kind of guidance, if any guidance at all, have you gotten from Bill in terms of trying to do that? Yeah, I think so. It’s a good question, Chris. I think obviously if you looked at this summer and you look at as we move forward, the the summer demanded a reset under the second apron. You know, if you go back to the Derek White trades, the Porzingis or Holiday trades when they came here, those wouldn’t be able to happen if you’re over the second apron because you can’t aggregate contracts and you can’t take more money back than you send out, right? So, like you have to give yourself the flexibility and opportunity to jump at the right deals. You don’t always know when those are going to present themselves. So, the second apron was the key. After that, we’re looking at it from the standpoint of again, let’s see what this team looks like. Let’s put our very best foot forward. Let’s let Joe, the staff, the players, let’s all work to maximize ourself and with an attitude of no ceilings and no limitations and go after it. And we’ll evaluate the roster like we always will as the year goes on. But there’s no tax goal, you know, there’s nothing that’s set in stone that we have to get to a certain level. the level obviously where we were earlier this summer that’s not close to where we are now. Um and listen, we lost, you know, we’ve we’ve we’ve said goodbye to awesome people and really good players. Um but I think we’ve added people that are excited to um add their strings together and see what we can do. And so we’re looking forward to that. And just quickly, Bill, I want to give you a chance to talk about that because I think for a lot of fans, that’s probably their biggest question about any owner. How much is that owner willing to spend? We know that some of the luxury tax penalties can be ownorous. Uh to reset the whole thing, you guys would have to get under twice in a 4-year period. So, I’m curious. I want to give you a chance to discuss that where you stand on that in terms of not just the second apron, but getting all the way under the luxury tax and trying to reset some of these penalties or if you, you know, don’t care, hey, let’s go for it. I mean, I let’s go for it. But, uh, let’s do it in a reasonable way. I think, you know, you we’re trying my my goal and and my, you know, high level direction to Brad and and the team is, you know, let’s let’s do whatever we can to win championships and raise banners and raise as many as we can um both in the near term, but also in the medium to the long term as well. So, definitely taking uh that approach and the flexibility that Brad talks about, I think that’s that’s paramount to to doing that. So, but ultimately, you know, we’re going to do everything we can to win. That is job. Job number one, and and not just win games, win championships for Brad. Jason has spoken this week about how he’s not ruling himself out for this season. Uh, do you view him potentially returning this season as a realistic possibility? Uh, and do you have any update on where he’s at in his recovery? I’ve said this from day one and I’ll continue to say it. No timelines on Jason from my perspective. My my number one goal, my number two goal, three goal, four goal is Jason Tatum fully healthy, full recovery, and he’s well on his way. Um he has been incredibly diligent. He’s been a great leader by example to people in this building when no players were around in the middle of the summer and when a lot of the young guys have been around in the last month and a half and um and we appreciate that and we know that he’s going to be itching to get back um and he will be the biggest decision maker in that right but there will be a lot of people in that room when that ultimately gets decided um including people that are working with him every day and um people that are really important to him and so like um we’re on a good path and we just need the most important thing is fully healthy Jason Tatum Angel Salceto Channel 5 ABC. Uh Bill, this question is for you. Most fans have viewed this year ever since Jason had his injury as a rebuilding season. I want to know where you stand on that. I think fans want to know where you stand on this coming year. Yeah, I mean again I would just say that that I I agree with Brad 100%. I just we’re not going to put a ceiling on the team. We’ve got a lot of talent. Um and we’ve got some very strong character people. I I’m actually pretty excited for what this team can do. Um when I look back those that Isaiah those Isaiah Thomas teams, those are some of my favorite. Um, I do think there’s, you know, it’s, um, there’s a smaller margin for error, but, you know, I do think that this team has some has some potential to be pretty special. Uh, and I think we’re, you know, we’re going to embrace the kind of underdog kind of mentality as well. So, I’m I’m super excited for what uh what’s around the corner. Uh, Bill, when the ownership change was first announced, I think it was speculated that that could ultimately spell the end of the Celtics playing a TD Garden, whether in the short term or the long term. Um I’m curious for you. Do you foresee that this team will continue to be housed at TD Garden or have you explore started exploring like potentially buying your own arena? Yeah. So the necessary caveats just like with the WNBA we’re we’re uh you know days or weeks in here. Um but I would say uh I I don’t have a a specific point of view on it. I have some sort of philosophical uh perspective on it. So the first thing is I really like the Boston Garden. Uh, personally, I think that the team and the player, more importantly, the team and the players really like the Boston Garden, and even equally importantly, the fans really like the Boston Garden. So, that’s that’s a a starting point. Um, second thing is, you know, I think the the Celtics and the Bruins, uh, they belong together. So, that’s another, you know, kind of part of the the equation as well. And then, but the third thing is, um, we are 100% committed to creating the best fan experience possible. and we’ll we’ll take a look at and figure where where that is, but we’ve got you’ve got a great thing going right now. Hi, Bill. Uh Marley Weird, uh 7 News. I know you’re leading this um investment group that now um happens to include um Sixth Street. There’s been reports of them purchasing stake in the Patriots as well. I heard about that. Just wondering in in having worked with them, what makes them an attractive partner for the the Boston franchises? Yeah, I mean there there are folks that I’ve done business with in the past. They uh were instrumental in in kind of filling out the the um support for the deal. Um and you know, I think that really importantly um they have a they are definitely, you know, behind the scenes, they have a lot of trust in in what I’m doing. They have a lot of trust with Wick’s doing, uh Rich and Brad, and um they’ve just been great partners for us. Um I you know I I can’t can’t say enough about them u but in the end of the day you know they’re in the background. Hey, how you doing? Good. Similar to that, what’s the process like of deciding how much you guys are going to spend year in and year out? The tax decision this year, what’s that process actually going to look like and do you plan to spend into the tax this year? Um so it is a it is the process starts with how do we win um and and then how do we win you know now and how do we win in the medium-term next year and the year after and the year after that probably can’t think much beyond that but but there that is a consideration actually because these things can last you know they can you can really damage a a situation for the very long term so I would say you know it starts with that that philosophy is like how do we win in the short term medium-term term and longer term and then working back from that, you know, how do we put together, you know, the the the jigsaw puzzle to do that and accomplish all those goals and how do we, you know, create how do we raise as many banners as we can, frankly. And ultimately, you know, I’m listening to to Brad and his team, um, listening to to Rich and to Bill and those folks, um, and, you know, taking, you know, just adding my my bits and pieces here and there, but really relying on them to to to come forward with the right answer. And how would you explain the fans? You guys had to make some significant cuts this summer, send out some significant players. Yeah. How would you explain the fans how that is going to benefit this team in the long term? Yeah. I mean, I um I’d say, you know, and some of those, you know, as a fan, like I I get it like those those hurt, you know, as a fan and and both, you know, just in and the good people and obviously great players had to had to we had to part ways with and that I get it. That that hurts. I would say, you know, I don’t mean to be to be glib, but there’s sort of three things I would say. First is Derek White. Um, second is Drew Holidayiday. And third is Chris Porzingis because if we if we were in the situation back when we we couldn’t have we couldn’t have gotten those those guys on the team. So that’s what we’re playing for. We’re playing for the flexibility to do that kind of thing. And when the moment is right, you know, to do that, we’re going to do it. I’d like to just I’d like to just add to that for a sec. those those moves or this type of move would have happened whether or not the team sold. I was on the committee that really wrote these new rules and negotiated them with the players. So wrote them together with the players to make it much more tough to just go and buy a championship. You have to have teams competing on a basically even financial keel no matter who owns them and then have the the best front office and the best uh good luck probably as well best players but you know competing other than by just saying who’s got the most money and so we wrote that very specifically at the league a few years ago agreed on it with the players and was very purposeful and intentional to keep the parody keep building the parody in the league we’ve had seven different champions in the last seven years. We’d like to change that and win a couple uh in a row or whatever. But um so these changes would have happened whether or not and I I foreshadowed this I think even before the sale by saying you know you go up for two years maybe at most three then you got to come back down and you’re going to see that my prediction was for the next 40 years as long as these rules are in the league teams are going to pop up as best they can and then they’re going to be so strangled on purpose that they come back down. So this is following the rules of the league just like when the Patriots got somebody. I still remember lawyer Malloy Tai Law you know um back in the day you know that’s just the game and so we are playing the NBA game as best we can today thinking as hard as we can and going after banner 19 that way. Bill back here uh you talked a lot about on a lot about your fandom of the Celtics. I’m curious what the origins was. Some people it’s like a parent got them into it or just seeing your favorite player on TV. Like what sparked your love, this lifelong love you talk about of the Celtics? Well, I mean, first of all, you know, growing up in the 80s in in Massachusetts, it’s pretty hard, you know, have your head in the sand to not be a Celtics fan. Um, so I do think that’s a it was just the environment was was incredible. Um, and uh and I, you know, I I got swept up into it. my family uh uh parents, brother, sister, we all we’d watch the games. I remember the Bob Koozie, there’s a se couple seasons when Bob Koozie and Gil Santos called games and I uh that was when I really was getting hooked. Actually, it might have been a little later, but it’s hard not to be have been a Celtic fan at that point. And it was a family family, you affair for for me growing up. And that’s the way it is now with my family, too. It’s, you know, it’s a it’s an incredible it’s just a really incredible way to to to spend time with your family, your kids, my wife. Um, and that that bonding and frankly, you know, with with a city like Boston, that that kind of brotherhood is like really powerful going to games and that energy. Wow. It’s really cool. Time for a few more questions. Bill, since you not only bought into the Celtics, but you’re now me a part of the NBA, are there league matters that you’re excited about being involved in, whether it’s TV negotiations or with the players or expansions, are there things you want to want to get your hand on? Um, you know, again, I’m sort of getting my my feet uh wet here. Um, but I would say and a little bit of a shout out to Wick. I mean, he’s done an incredible job, you know, being part of those uh uh leadership of those those different um those different subcommittees. Um I I personally feel like the the Celtics should be on, you know, every committee that matters and there are a few that do. Um and uh you know, I have to be a little patient to get there, but you know, we’re going to keep, you know, we’ll keep pushing for that. And I do think it’s I think it’s in the best interest of certainly of the Celtics, but also of of the league for that that to be the case. Just ask it a different way. Are there things that the league’s doing that you’re especially excited about, whether it’s expansion or the NBA Cup or international play? Anything that you you look forward to? Yeah, I I think um I think some of the stuff, you know, the league is thinking about, you know, internationally is pretty exciting. I think that’s, you know, that’s a that’s a real opportunity. Um, and I look at the the demographics of not only the the the viewership, but the players, too. I mean, I think that’s I think there’s a real opportunity to take the NBA and actually, you know, take it even more, you know, global. When I look at when you look at sports and the, you know, in the on the on a global basis, I, you know, you’ve got you’ve got soccer and you’ve got you’ve got the NBA. Um and uh and and and a little bit differently the soccer there are many many leagues in basketball it’s the NBA so I think the sky’s is the limit there and pretty excited to see where that where that goes. Yeah. Rich, uh what stood out to you in your first meeting with Bill and just how is the dynamic been between the two of you and the group downtown and just getting him acclimated to the business side? It’s funny that Bill mentioned uh the Dil Santos Bob Koozie pairing because the first day we met Bill, he uh brought his kids in for the game and we arranged to meet him uh in the locker room after halftime just to acquaint ourselves, say hello and show him around a little bit and we started to talk about the team and we started quickly realized what a real fan he was. But he he definitely established his bonafides when he said that Gil Santos used to refer to Bob Koozie as Mona mei because Bob Koozie was French. And I was like, “Wow, this guy is one of us. He he can’t fake that.” Yeah, that is a deep cut. U and I think from that point on, uh we were all very hopeful Bill would be and and his group would be the group that would be successful in in buying the team. Um, goes without saying this means a lot to a lot of people. Uh, you just have to go to the Bill Russell uh, bridge dedication yesterday to understand what the Celtics mean to the city of Boston. And Wick and his partners have done an amazing job of, I think, sort of restoring the Celtics to their kind of their rightful place in the NBA and the hierarchy, but but mostly for fans. And the last thing that any of us would want is for someone to kind of come in and snuff that out in any way. When we met Bill, we were like, “No, this is this is the guy.” Like he’s he feels it. He gets it. Um and the working relationship since we met has been indicative of that. He’s been uh very thoughtful in um and his opinions. Uh he’s been very humble and how he’s approached the the Boston Celtics with reverence and what it really means and uh I think it’s exciting. You know, we’ve had a good thing going for a while here. Uh but it can get better and you know, Bill’s going to help make us better. I think Bill and his group will push us to get better and smarter and and that’s a good thing for us. So um it’s it’s been great so far and no reason to think that it will be anything but uh even better moving forward. Malcolm Johnson, NBC 10 Boston. Uh Wick, you talked about how much you love the team and the fans have seen it over the years. Uh on a personal level, what has this process been like and has it been challenging? Um yeah, life is full of challenges. This was a challenge to wrap my head around this. Um I worked it out with my family. I ended up with um you know, agreed that I’d end up with about half of what the family and I had collectively put in. So that’s now in my name. Um, so I’m a significant owner in this team alongside Bill and Audit and Sixth Street. I’m grateful for that. But more than just ownership, um, it’s just love and commitment. And Ameilia and I have agreed to and we’re glad to be invited to really stay in forever and keep shares in the team and courtside seats and just be there um, with our kids. It’s just um starting off it was it was a challenge just to even to figure out how to auction off the Celtics successfully and find the right group among the many qualified groups and great people including old friends who were bidding. Uh but we knew one would step forward eventually and uh a great group stepped forward eventually and now we’re part of it. So it’s actually worked out and no no fooling it’s worked out authentically just great. I think it’s worked out great for the Celtics, too. I hope so. Um, and Rich and Brad and Joe and I are all really thrilled to be part of this new world. Uh, we met personally, saw, you know, Jason, Jaylen, uh, Payton, and Sam and Luca Garza, just to name five today and spent some time with them. The vibe is very, very positive around here. And, uh, that’s the way we’re playing this. We’re playing this to win. Taking a long view. got to get JT back probably. But let’s watch Jaylen Brown, you know, and Payton Pritchard and, you know, everybody run this team and lead this team and then we’ll we’ll just uh icing on the cake will be bringing back JT. I maybe I just add something to that. I I would just say um just just in in from from my point of view, the the way it’s sort of worked and how how it’s kind of played out, I would you know, I think Wick is like the ultimate Celtic for me. I mean, it’s it’s we have talk about the team, the team, the team. And sorry, Mike Wick. Uh, but I mean, the way that he’s he’s embraced me and the rest of the the the new investors. I mean, at the owner meeting, he spent two hours introduced me to every single owner, walking walking the room with me. Um, you know, because that’s in the best interest of the Boston Celtics. So, I’m super grateful for that. And, um, and he’s been a fantastic partner. Yeah. Thank you. question. Bill, we’re we’re only about halfway through this process of purchasing the Celtics, right? There’s still a second phase to go. Can you speak to I mean, this is an approximately $7 billion valuation. Can you speak to the process of assembling a group of investors and how much is left to be done and how much when this is all said and done, how does that impact what percentage of the team that you own? Yeah, it’s the the way that we approached this was we want it done day one and it is done day one. It’s just a matter of um of actually how it gets funded. So, it’s done. Um and uh in terms of ownership that sort of thing I am, you know, my ownership stake really doesn’t change very materially at all. Um because it’s already locked in. We’ve already we already have the commitments that’s it’s done. Bill, you called uh Wick Mr. Celtic right over here. Yeah. What has it been like from a business standpoint just having him there by your side to kind of help you get used to things and get into the swing of things here? Yeah. I mean, I I um there’s no way coming in here you’re going to, you know, you’re going to everything you do is going to be, you know, right on. It’s not going to be the way things have been done in the past. And it’s there’s going to be some mistakes. And, you know, I’m not perfect, not even close. And, uh, frankly, Wick is has been a really good partner for me and, you know, kept me out of some trouble to be honest. So, uh, it’s been a been been really a fantastic partnership and I’m really excited about the the path forward on that, too. Thank you everybody for being here today. Thank you very much. Yeah, appreciate it. Okay, that’s it. Thank you. Heat. Heat. [Music]
Tune in as we officially introduce Bill Chisholm and the new members of the team’s ownership group at the Auerbach Center.
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