How have you forged a connection with the team?
I feel extremely welcome. I try to find the right balance of being supportive and visible to them without making them feel like I’m looking over their shoulder. I try to be super available, super positive, and I’ve tried to develop a relationship with all the players, and certainly with [coach Joe Mazzulla]. We’re on the same page, and I’m a huge fan. And [president of basketball operations Brad Stevens] and his team are tremendous.
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How are you balancing this new role with still being managing partner at Symphony Technology Group in Silicon Valley?
I think it’s worked well. We have a [home] in Boston and a place in California and that’s worked well. Previously, I went to a bunch of games, and I’m getting to a bunch of games now. I’d say one of the things that’s made it so seamless is we have [former lead governor Wyc Grousbeck] who did it for over 20 years and done it incredibly well. Then having what I would say is the best basketball executive there is in Brad and his team.
Probably my biggest challenge is to incrementally improve things, but most importantly, ensure the culture stays intact. For me, the thing I’ve probably been most proud of is resisting the temptation of the new owner curse [of making too many changes], because it’s a very good situation and I certainly don’t take that for granted.
Wyc Grousbeck (right) was seated alongside Chisholm when Chisholm was introduced as lead governor of the Celtics in September 2025.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
You mentioned there are always thing to improve. Are there areas of potential change you’ve identified?
I don’t think there are specific things I’d call out. I think the thing for me as I interact with Brad and [assistant general manager Mike Zarren] and their team, they’re very talented and I really try to be supportive of them and try to ask questions. The thing I’m probably most focused on is culture … Brad emphasizes that so highly and I just continue to emphasize that to make sure that is very clear that that’s really important.
This will be your first true offseason as lead governor. How involved do you want to be regarding roster matters?
I’ll do whatever it takes. I think I’ve gotten a pretty good depth of knowledge around all the scaffolding to make those decisions. Understanding the [NBA collective bargaining agreement], understanding the salary cap, I’ve put in the work to understand that, mostly because I think you make better decisions when you’re informed. But ultimately, I’m looking to Brad and [president Rich Gotham] and their teams to make the recommendations, and I’m there to support them.
There will be times when there will be some tough decisions that I’m ready to make, but the most important decision is having that layer of management and leadership in place, and we’ve got that.
Brad made it abundantly clear last summer that cost-cutting measures were essential to get below the salary cap’s second apron and ease roster-building restrictions. But the low-hanging fruit was that the new owner was coming in and cutting costs. Were you sensitive to that perception?
I think it’s out there, but ultimately, I have to prove every day in the near term, medium term, and long term that I want to win, I want to win desperately and I’m a huge fan. I can understand where some short-term decisions might feel like they’re not necessarily headed in that direction, but I put hand on heart and know I’m doing and we’re doing the right things to win, and that’s what we care about. So, you have to trust in that.
I compare us to other teams coming into the season that looked a lot like us. We were completely aligned that we’re about winning. We’re going to compete, play hard, develop our talent, find additional talent, and this is not a gap year. We’re just not doing that. I can put my hand on heart saying that. I’ll prove it and I’ll continue to prove it every day: that I just want to win.
What was your view of Jayson Tatum’s recovery from the Achilles injury he suffered last May?
I was interested in it for him as a person, but it was all up to him and how he was feeling and progressing. I tried certainly to put zero pressure on anybody and really just let it happen. We looked at it like maybe it might happen, but we were prepared either way. So, I tried to stay balanced on it and make sure it was right for him physically and mentally. And, holy cow, he’s throwing up triple-doubles now.
What have you thought of Jaylen Brown’s MVP-caliber season?
He’s always been incredible, but to have even another gear in Year 10 is really incredible. I think as a player he upped his game across all dimensions, but as a leader as well. As I sit there on the bench I see little interactions: when a guy is struggling, you see Jaylen come over and put his hand on their shoulder and kind of clap him up. The leadership stuff has really been impressive.
Or, when we’re struggling in a game, you can just see it. He’s like ‘OK, this is enough, enough of this screwing around.’ And he puts his head down and gets to the rim and gets a really high-quality shot. He absolutely should be first-team All-NBA, and for me he’s certainly my personal MVP.
How has having Brad and Joe in charge stabilized things for you?
I do not take that for granted. I look around at the owners’ meetings and talking to other folks and hear of the challenges they have and the wholesale changes they have to make, not just to their rosters but their management. It is extraordinary here. It’s all I know, but I know enough to know this is not normal to have this. I am going to fight and claw and do everything in my power to make sure we keep it going with those guys.
You’ve made it clear you think TD Garden is a good home and are in no rush to consider building a new arena. But you mentioned you were curious to hear fans’ views. What has the feedback been, and where do you stand now?
It’s pretty much the same as it was at the beginning of the season. The philosophy there is the same. The Garden is a great place to play. It’s consistently ranked one of the best places in the league for player and fan experience. It’s loud, a lot of energy, and it’s got a storied history.
My starting point is if we can make it work, we’d love to stay where we are. And making it work means improving the fan experience and the player experience. If we can do those things and remain where we are now, that’s great. And if that doesn’t work there, we’ll think about other places. But my goal here is to see if we ideally make it work where we are, and I think there’s a commitment with us, with the Bruins and Delaware North, with all of that. That’s where we want to end up and we’re working on it as we speak.
Have you felt like you’re becoming a part of the Boston community?
It’s a fantastic city. It was a pretty rough winter. But It’s a fantastic city, and to have the energy of what’s been going on with the Celtics, but also the Patriots’ run, it’s been a magical time for Boston as a city and a sports city. I always say it’s the best sports city in the country, so that’s been special. I grew up in the North Shore, but this is my first time living in the city proper, so there’s a lot of stuff that’s familiar and a lot that’s new as well.
Your wife Kimberly and three children have been a visible presence at games. What has this experience been like for your family?
I sort of do my own mental straw poll of our family on who’s the biggest fan, and I don’t know, it’s a dead heat. They’re over the moon and it’s been special for all of us and we’re all in it together. When your kids are in their mid-to-late 20s to be able to have that much time spent with them is a really nice gift that the Celtics have given me, so I appreciate it.
Responses were lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.