While the Celtics’ trade for Malcolm Brogdon last summer was almost universally praised, one question lingered: Could the veteran guard stay healthy enough to be the difference maker Boston hoped for?
Brogdon suffered from a bit of an injury bug over the course of his first six seasons in the league. Last season – in his final year with the Pacers – Brogdon only played in 36 games, mostly due to an Achilles injury. It was frustrating for him. But the Celtics then acquired him to take on a reserve role, a job he embraced and excelled in.
The move not only led to him being named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, it also allowed him to have one of the healthiest seasons of his career.
Brogdon had his share of minor injuries – including right hamstring tightness that kept him out for four consecutive games in November – but he ultimately played in 67 games, his most in a season since he was a rookie in 2016-17. He also played in a career-low 26.0 minutes per game as his body wasn’t required to take on the load that comes with being a team’s main option.
“I feel amazing,” Brogdon said. “I’ve never felt amazing going into the playoffs. I’ve been to the playoffs … five years in my career. I’ve never felt fresh. I feel fresh right now. That’s a testament to how they’ve played me, how they’ve managed my loads. Just the maintenance they and I have taken care of my body on a different level this season. I feel completely fresh, which is a blessing.”
As he accepted the Sixth Man of the Year award, Brogdon revealed that he had a realization after last season that he probably wasn’t a No. 1 option in the NBA. Part of that was due to the Pacers’ lack of success over the last two seasons. His body not always holding up certainly didn’t help. He had to have an honest conversation with himself about how he fit in the league.
“For me, I had to look at myself and figure out what more can I do moving forward,” Brogdon said. “Whether with the Pacers or someone else, what will my role look like? Where do I need to be? What role do I need to play on a really good team? I knew at that point, after Indiana, I wanted to be on a really good team. It’s an ego check and also understanding who you are. I think that’s the best thing you can do in this league, especially as a young guy, but even as a vet, understand who you are and what you bring to any team, and you’ll most likely be in a good position.”
Brogdon has found that with the Celtics, but while it has looked seamless, he admitted that his transition from being a team’s top option to playing a reserve role hasn’t always been easy.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that,” Brogdon said. “I think there are ups and downs in any role you play in the NBA, whether you’re the main guy or a bench player, there are doubts. There are times you don’t score as much or have as much of an impact or don’t play as much, or the team loses and you have doubts. But this team is resilient, I’ve been resilient, and the coaching staff has been resilient. It’s just a group full of winners. We have high expectations for ourselves. We’re hard on ourselves. But also we come out and we play at a high level most nights because the expectation level is so high.”
Danilo Gallinari is continuing to travel with the Celtics as he recovers and rehabs from his torn ACL. But he’s not only working out, he’s staying connected and engaged. The veteran forward played his previous two seasons with the Hawks, and his knowledge of them is being used.
“More than the Hawks, he’s just been around a lot of coaches, been in a lot of playoff series, so he just has a feel for series go and small details that he can point out because he’s been in locker rooms and he’s played against these guys before,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “He’s been very valuable, I really appreciate his insight and professionalism.”
Games 3 and 4 of this series mark a return home for both Brogdon and Jaylen Brown, who are Atlanta natives. Brogdon – who starred at nearby Greater Atlanta Christian School – certainly has pride for the city, but growing up, he wasn’t exactly a Hawks fan.
“For me, I’m tied to the city. I love Atlanta,” Brogdon said. “This is home, this will always be home. I will always have some type of house or tie in here. But as far as the franchise, no. I mean, historically, these fans haven’t been the most dedicated. And that’s myself included, coming up. I was always an NBA fan, but not Hawks specifically.”