What the Lakers did, the Celtics had already walked that path (in terms of rings and ownership). The Boston Celtics sent shockwaves throughout the basketball world earlier this year when they decided to sell to Bill Chisholm. Initially, it was reported that even when the sale would be approved, Wyc Grousbeck would continue as the governor for a couple more years, indicating that he would be part of the decision-making process within the organization. However, that is no longer the case after Shams Charania provided everyone with a stunning update.

The ESPN Insider has reported that Grousbeck will not be the governor of the team until 2028, which was agreed upon earlier. “Wyc Grousbeck will no longer stay on as governor as part of the Boston Celtics’ $6.1 billion sale to Bill Chisholm, sources tell me and @ramonashelburne. Plan had been for Grousbeck to remain through 2028. Chisholm assumes governor title and the transfer will be finalized soon.” Charania tweeted. After getting skipped in the Christmas week, this is another shocking news, to say the least, for the Celtics fans.

Grousbeck, who, with the help of an investment firm, purchased the Cs back in 2002, will not be the one calling the shots for the franchise after living the highs and lows with them for more than two decades. While this will be an emotional farewell for the Celtics supporters, it seems to be a statement by Bill Chisholm, hinting that the new Celtics owner wants to take full control of the storied franchise without interruption. Also, who wouldn’t want to be at the helm of the team that they purchased for billions of dollars? Everyone, but there’s a catch.

The overall control does seem fair, but the only thing that seems a bit off is the sudden change of plans. You could compare this situation to that of former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban. He was also reported to remain as governor of the team after the sale went through, but later that was not what ended up happening. However, the good news is that Wyc Grousbeck won’t be entirely removed from the front office, unlike Cuban.

It is reported that while Bill Chisholm will become the governor after the sale goes through, Wyc Grousbeck will be part of the front office. The former Cs owner will remain as the alternate governor and CEO of the Boston Celtics until 2028. Even though Grousbeck will no longer be making the final call, the Cs fans should settle with it as he remains a part of the franchise, especially after Adam Silver’s recent actions, which have left the fans fuming.

Adam Silver’s decision sidelines Jayson Tatum and Co.

Amid this front office saga, for the first time in more than a decade, the Boston Celtics have been left out of the opening night fixtures and the Christmas Day games. The Cs, given their illustrious history, have been staples of the NBA fare on December 25th. Meanwhile, their success has helped them be part of the opening day for the majority of the last decade as well. So, what made Adam Silver sideline them from the next season’s marquee dates?

As harsh as it may sound, the only reason that could have motivated the commissioner to take this step is Jayson Tatum’s absence. As we all know, the Celtics’ superstar will be out for most of the next season after suffering an Achilles injury during last season’s playoffs. This means that Adam Silver and Co. might have assumed that Boston would no longer be competing for the title next season, hence keeping them out of both the marquee dates this year.

This is a tough one to take for the Boston supporters, but the reality is they actually won’t be aiming for the title next season and instead will focus on staying competitive until Tatum’s return. As for who will feature on the opening day, it will be the defending champions OKC Thunder, who will host the Houston Rockets on 21st October for the first game of the new season. This blockbuster matchup will be followed by a battle between Stephen Curry and LeBron James, as everyone eagerly awaits the next season.