Brad Stevens was debuting a new look Boston Celtics side this evening in their first pre-season match against the Charlotte Hornets with Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward taking the floor.
Fans were watching in anticipation to catch the first glimpse of Irving in a Celtics uniform and he gave them a little taste of what’s to come from the former Cleveland Cavaliers point guard.
He finished with a box score of nine points, four rebounds and three assists and also marked his debut with a rare dunk after a give-and-go with Al Horford.
The 25-year-old only attempted two dunks last season but proved his versatility to the Celtic’s unit with an array of dribble moves and difficult finishes in the paint.
When asked how it felt to make his first appearance in a Boston Celtics uniform after the game, Irving said: “It felt good.
“Unofficially in pre-season but I’m just getting started.
“I felt like I was on another platform out here on the TD garden for the first time.
“Eyes wide – just trying to get things going. Rusty as hell but it was good to play some NBA basketball again.”
Stevens chose to rest his three top stars – Irving, Hayward and Horford – for the second half, giving the young talent a chance to shine.
Jayson Tatum, the No3 pick in the 2017 draft, was handed 32 minutes in his first Celtics appearance and took time to settle but eventually finished with a 9-5-5 box score.