The Boston Celtics brought two of their biggest offseason additions in front of reporters Tuesday, but their new center was nowhere to be found.
Mitchell Robinson missed the introductory news conference at the Auerbach Center after leaving town that morning for a personal matter, team president Brad Stevens said.
Paul George and Mike Conley Jr. spent the afternoon answering questions about their roles next to Jayson Tatum and what they expect from a roster that underwent major changes this summer.
Robinson’s absence was addressed early. Stevens told reporters the 7-footer had been in the building earlier before departing.
Boston Globe reporter Adam Himmelsbach confirmed the situation shortly before the session began.
“Per source, Mitchell Robinson won’t be part of today’s introductory press conference, due to personal reasons. Robinson has been taking part in informal team workouts this month,” Himmelsbach posted.
Robinson agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million contract with Boston in July after helping the New York Knicks win their first NBA title in 53 years. The deal includes a player option in the third season.
The 28-year-old spent his entire first eight NBA seasons with the Knicks after they drafted him 36th overall in 2018. He was one of the last remaining players from that draft class still with the franchise that selected him.
Last season Robinson averaged 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 19.6 minutes across 60 games while shooting 72.3 percent from the field. He ranked second in the league with 4.2 offensive rebounds per game.
In the playoffs he posted 4.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per game as New York beat the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the Finals. He grabbed a key offensive rebound in the closeout win.Injuries have followed Robinson throughout his career, including multiple ankle procedures and a broken right pinkie that required surgery just before last year’s Finals. Still, he played 60 games last season, his highest total since 2021-22.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has long admired what Robinson does on the floor. During their 2025 playoff series, Mazzulla had his players intentionally foul Robinson to try to get him off the court.
“I told him (the fouling) was a compliment,” Mazzulla said. “He was so effective when he’s on the floor. We had to do what we could to take him off the floor. So, now we have to be able to use his effectiveness to make us better.”
Robinson has already turned heads in informal workouts with Boston this month.
“Was working out with my coach in Boston. You know what he said? He didn’t know that I had the sh— that I showed tonight,” Robinson said. “The ball handling, the shooting, the touch. Right now, I’m just so confident in myself.”
The Celtics went 56-26 last season and earned the No. 2 seed in the East before losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games in the first round. Neemias Queta started 75 games and averaged 10.2 points and 8.4 rebounds.
Robinson is expected to give Mazzulla another high-impact option in the frontcourt alongside Queta and Luka Garza. Training camp opens Sept. 29, with the preseason starting Oct. 8.
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