The Boston Celtics have blown past every expectation this season. They entered the year with a modest preseason win total projection of just 41.5, and many wrote them off without Jayson Tatum leading the charge. Yet here they are at 47-24, firmly on top of the Atlantic Division and making those early doubters look silly.
)
Sunday night brought a tough result at TD Garden. The Minnesota Timberwolves rolled in and walked out with a 102-92 victory, handing Boston a loss that stung on an otherwise strong campaign. It was one of those rare off nights for a team that has delivered far more highs than lows.
But buried in that defeat was a special moment that deserves its own spotlight.
Celtics Rookie Max Shulga Makes Franchise History
Rookie guard Max Shulga had already put in a full day’s work long before tip-off against Minnesota. Earlier on Sunday, he suited up for the Maine Celtics in the G League, helping them cruise to a 121-91 win over the Cleveland Charge. In 28 minutes, he dropped 12 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out four assists.
Then he made the trip to TD Garden and did it all over again.
Shulga checked into the NBA game and knocked down his first career NBA bucket—a layup late in the fourth quarter. It was a milestone on its own for the 6-foot-4 guard, who had taken just two shots in his entire NBA career up to that point. But the real story was the bigger picture: scoring points in both a G League game and an NBA game on the same day.
That feat made Shulga the first player in Boston Celtics franchise history to ever accomplish it. In a franchise as storied as this one, being the first at anything is no small achievement.
The Celtics celebrated the moment on social media right afterward, with the team and Maine Celtics accounts highlighting the historic double-duty performance.
Who Shulga Is and How He Got Here
Selected 57th overall by the Orlando Magic in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, Shulga’s rights were quickly traded to Boston. The Ukrainian-born guard built an impressive college career, first at Utah State before following coach Ryan Odom to VCU. There, he averaged 15 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game as a standout performer.
His transition to the NBA has been patient and steady. Shulga has spent most of the season developing with the Maine Celtics, where he’s putting up strong numbers: 15.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. His production has been reliable and consistent all year.
Sunday proved he can bring that same energy and impact when the big club calls his name.
Next up, the Oklahoma City Thunder visit TD Garden on Wednesday night. The Celtics will look to bounce back sharper than they showed against Minnesota.
In the meantime, give a nod to Max Shulga—the rookie who just etched his name into Celtics lore in the most unique way possible. Franchise firsts don’t come around every day. ☘️