Watching the second apron force the Boston Celtics to break apart their championship core this summer wasn’t easy for anyone in the organization. But the department we felt most for? The video editors in charge of putting together all the tribute videos that will roll whenever a beloved player returns to TD Garden this season.
There should be at least four instances this winter where a hush falls over the Garden crowd and a 60-second montage of highlights from that player’s time in Boston will roll on the Jumbotron. Fans will roar for key moments, particularly when the Larry O’Brien Trophy or a parade shot is included, and some of the standing ovations will last longer than the videos themselves.
The Celtics’ video squad routinely crushes these assignments, and it’s fun to watch players on both teams take a break from the action to cherish the moment. There’s simply going to be a lot of them this season.
The good news for Boston’s video group: None of the returns occur in calendar year 2025, so there’s some time to work with. January could feature three returning heroes. Luke Kornet is slated to return with San Antonio on January 10; Jrue Holiday is expected back with Portland on January 26; and Kristaps Porzingis should travel here with Atlanta on January 28.
If and when Al Horford eventually signs with the Golden State Warriors, then he would return to TD Garden on March 18. You’ve got ample time to secure your tissues.
For Day 9 of our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our panel to pick which tribute video they are most excited to watch at TD Garden this season.
If we’re being honest, we’re excited that each video ought to be a little different.
Good luck trying to distill all the hilarious moments from Kornet’s Boston tenure down to 60 (or even 90) seconds. A supercut of his best celebrations would eat up all the available time. Trying to shoehorn a witty soundbite or two would really put the video editors in a bind. But we suspect that video will feel like a smile-inducing celebration.
Holiday’s video will likely be a little bit more buttoned up, but ought to highlight just how vital he was to Boston’s 2024 postseason success. The key plays Holiday made in the Indiana series alone could fill the allotted time.
All we ask for with the Porzingis video is some sort of highly dramatic transition, maybe some black and white footage of him hobbling off the court against Miami, then flashing to his WWE-style walkout before Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Mavericks. Goosebumps. We expect Porzingis to be smiling throughout the video and fans to roar at every opportunity. This one will feel like a party.
Then there’s Horford. How do you summarize his impact over seven seasons and two tenures in one TV timeout? Horford made Boston a destination for free agents when he signed here in 2016. He accelerated the development of multiple variations of this roster, routinely delivering this team to the Eastern Conference Finals before finally getting over the hump in 2024.
This will undoubtedly be the most emotional of the bunch. And if Horford’s son, Ean, is perched next to him on the visitor’s bench, it’s going to get dusty in the Garden real quick.
Maybe it’s fitting Horford would go last among returning players. While we’re excited for the smiles that Porzingis and Kornet will elicit, it’s unlikely anything can top the emotion that will flow when Horford returns.
Here’s what our panel had to say:
Darren Hartwell, Managing Editor
If we’re talking entertainment factor, it’s a tight race between Kristaps Porzingis (cue the WWE-style entrance!) and Luke Kornet. (Can we get another attack ad, Luke?)
But few Celtics have meant more to the organization over the last decade than Horford. I’m getting goosebumps now just thinking about the rousing ovation he’ll receive from the TD Garden faithful — even if he’s in a Warriors uniform.
Michael Hurley, Web Producer
Al Horford’s should be the longest. They could do two tributes in two separate timeouts for his two tenures. Seeing Horford progress from the Isaiah Thomas era through the championship season will be the most stirring for everybody in attendance.
Porzingis’ will be the most electric. He might go nuts. Kornet’s will be the funniest. Holiday’s will be straightforward and solid. He’ll give a nice wave.
But Al’s will be the best.
Sean McGuire, Web Producer
It’s between Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford for me, but I’m going to give a slight edge to Porzingis.
I could see his allergies really acting up in late January, and I could see the Celtics-Hawks crowd that night trying to one-up the Celtics-Blazers crowd from two nights prior. Additionally, the cinematic photos of blood pouring from Porzingis’ head will never not be cool.
We’re taking a look back at the top five moments from the Celtics’ postseason run which ended in an NBA Championship.
Josh Canu, Media Editor
Al Horford.
There is no better example of a professional than Horford. He has had an underrated career and has been such a key piece to the Celtics in both his tenures here. He isn’t flashy and the loudest voice in the room, but he may have been the most consistent.
His tribute will definitely tug on the heartstrings the most.
Jim Aberdale, Supervising Producer, Celtics
Kristaps Porzingis without a doubt.
He really took to the Boston experience and, in turn, the fans reciprocated. And it’s a lock he’ll come with some great soundbites — always appreciated by the crew creating the pregame and postgame shows.
Max Lederman, Content Producer
Al Horford was the first major free agent to ever sign with the Celtics. He added instant credibility to the team when he arrived and embraced the city and fans like he was born here.
His tribute video will almost certainly be the most emotional, and sometimes it’s good to cry.
Jrue Holiday talks about what it means to him to see Al Horford finally win a championship and what it means to be his teammate.
Kevin Miller, VP, Content
From a content standpoint, Luke Kornet for sure. Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis will be fun. But I feel Al Horford deserves a truly emotional evening.
History will show that he was one of the most important players in Celtics history. He came here as a free agent and started to shift the tide on how other players viewed the organization. And Brad Stevens’ trade for Horford in 2021 that sent out Kemba Walker might be one of the great trades of all time. It gave you a leader and an overly productive big for a championship team while shedding money to make other key moves.
Horford defined professionalism and deserves the love from Celtics fans.
Adam Hart, EP, Content Strategy
Jrue Holiday, because he’s the one I was most disappointed to see go. A quiet assassin, he deserved a better ending than what the Second Apron forced upon him.
