The Boston Celtics have been one of the biggest success stories of the 2025-26 NBA season.
Projected for just 41.5 wins in the preseason, many wrote Boston off after losing Jayson Tatum to a serious Achilles injury. Instead, at 47-24 and sitting comfortably atop the Atlantic Division, the Celtics have made those low expectations look ridiculous. They’ve shown remarkable depth, resilience, and coaching under Joe Mazzulla.
Sunday night, however, was a rare off night. The Minnesota Timberwolves came into TD Garden and walked out with a 102-92 victory, handing Boston a loss that felt heavier than most this season.
But buried inside that defeat was a quiet, historic moment that deserves celebration.
While the final score stung, rookie guard Max Shulga etched his name into Celtics franchise history in a way no one had done before.
Earlier on Sunday, the 6-foot-4 Ukrainian-born guard had already put in a full day’s work with the Maine Celtics, suiting up for a dominant 121-91 G League victory over the Cleveland Charge. In 28 minutes, Shulga contributed 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists — a solid, professional performance in the developmental league.
Then, without missing a beat, he made the trip to TD Garden, checked into the NBA game against the Timberwolves, and scored his first career NBA bucket.
That alone would have been a milestone for a young player who had attempted just two shots in his entire brief NBA career up to that point. But the bigger story was the combination of the two appearances on the same day.
By scoring in both the G League and the NBA within hours of each other, Max Shulga became the first player in the long, storied history of the Boston Celtics franchise to accomplish that feat. In a franchise that has seen legends like Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, and the current core of stars come through, being the first to do anything is no small achievement.
The Celtics themselves acknowledged the special moment on social media afterward, giving Shulga his well-deserved flowers.
Who Is Max Shulga and How Did He Get Here?
Selected 57th overall in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, Shulga’s rights were immediately traded to Boston. The Ukrainian-born guard built a strong college résumé, first at Utah State and then following head coach Ryan Odom to VCU, where he averaged 15 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game in his final season.
His transition to the NBA has been gradual and methodical. Shulga has spent the majority of the 2025-26 season developing with the Maine Celtics, where he has been a consistent producer: 15.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and a team-friendly 6.8 assists per game.
Sunday was proof that when the call comes from the big club, he can bring that same energy, professionalism, and production to the NBA level — even on the same day he already played a full G League game.
For a team that has been forced to rely heavily on depth and two-way contributors in Tatum’s absence, moments like this highlight why the Celtics’ development system and organizational depth have been so impressive this season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder — one of the league’s strongest teams — come to TD Garden on Wednesday night. Boston will need to be much sharper than they were against Minnesota. But with players like Max Shulga showing they can step up and make history even on the most unlikely days, the Celtics’ belief in their depth remains unshaken.
In a season full of surprises, Shulga’s one-day double-duty performance will be remembered as a small but meaningful chapter in Boston’s remarkable 2025-26 campaign.
Celtics fans, this is what depth looks like — and why this team continues to exceed every expectation.