BOSTON — After the Celtics’ Monday night win over the Utah Jazz, Jayson Tatum gleefully ushered Svi Mykhailiuk into the Celtics’ locker room.
The Ukrainian guard — the most recent recipient of the Celtics’ championship ring — immediately embraced former teammate Sam Hauser, who had just scored a career-high 33 points.
The rest of the Celtics were thrilled to see the Jazz guard back in TD Garden’s home locker room. Jrue Holiday broke into a grin, as players lined up to embrace the only member of the 2023-24 who signed with a different team in the offseason.
Five months after the Celtics received their championship rings, Mykhailiuk’s was finally his as the Jazz made their lone trip of the year to TD Garden.
Derrick White, who became one of Mykahiliuk’s closest friends on the roster last year, said the reunion was a welcome one.
“Good to see him, as a person,” White said. “And then, obviously, for him to get the ring — it’s cool for him to have that moment.”
Mykhailiuk never became a household name in Boston; he averaged 4 points a game and appeared in exactly half the games in the Celtics’ regular season.
Still, he played an important role as a member of the Stay Ready group last year, before successfully cosplaying as Luka Doncic at practice during the NBA Finals.
So, Joe Mazzulla, who doesn’t like talking about opposing players, made an exception when asked about Mykhailiuk pregame.
“He goes into that category of the group of guys that could really impact winning,” Mazzulla said. “On nights when you don’t have your guys, his ability to step in — he won games for us, and he won stretches, runs. I think that’s huge.”
“It’s important for that group of guys to know that they’ve had an impact on winning — and you see that’s one of the strengths of this team now.”
One of Mykahiliuk’s highest-profile moments came at the Celtics’ championship parade, when he donned a “Boston Svi Party” hat, and raucously celebrated on the same float as Derrick White.
Mykhailiuk spoke to reporters before Tuesday’s game between the Celtics and the Jazz, and reflected on that thrilling June day.
“It’s a little blurry,” he said with a smile, before disclaiming he was only kidding.
Then, more seriously, he acknowledged the parade was a blessing that most NBA players never get to experience: “I’m fortunate to be a part of it. It’s a really, really unreal experience. I wish everybody could experience it — especially in the city of Boston.”
On Monday, Mykahiliuk finally received his championship ring, surrounded by his former teammates and after a Jumbotron presentation that quickly ran through some of his best moments as a Celtic.
Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
He dapped up his former teammates at center court, including Al Horford’s son Ean, and embraced Joe Mazzulla and the other assistants, before returning to Utah’s end of the court to prepare for tip-off.
Then, in 23 minutes against the Celtics, he recorded 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists.
Mykhailiuk said he’s stayed in touch with his former Celtic teammates. He reached out to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to congratulate them when they were named NBA All-Stars, and, most recently, to Derrick White and Payton Pritchard when they recorded new career highs: “I feel like we had a really tight circle.”
What he remembers most from his stint with the Celtics is unsurprising.
“A lot of winning,” he said with a chuckle. “That’s the main memory. Just being a part of a team — doing everything the right way.”
The Celtics finished the year 64-18, won the Eastern Conference by 14 games, and rattled off a 16-3 postseason record en route to the title.
He recalled his confidence in the team’s championship chances increasing when the Celtics acquired Jrue Holiday via trade during training camp.
“I felt like when we got Jrue, it felt like our chances were higher,” Mykahiliuk said. “I wouldn’t say it was, like, inevitable — but it felt like we got a really good chance.”
Svi Mykhailiuk has emerged as a critical veteran voice for the Jazz
It’s hard to extend a career as an NBA journeyman, but Mykhailiuk has managed to do it. He’s been in the league since 2018, and has played for eight teams during that span. He’s seen his minutes and opportunities fluctuate throughout his career, only averaging more than double-figures once and switching teams mid-season three times.
This season, he has only appeared in 26 of 65 games but has nonetheless been a solid contributor when in the rotation, averaging 9.4 points per game.
His ability to be ready when his number is called is a mentality that routinely impressed Mazzulla last year.
“I think that’s part of the reason why he’s continued to kind of stay in [the NBA],” said the Celtics coach. “And I think that’s big.”
Mykhaliiuk’s varying role — coupled with his championship pedigree — helped make him a credible voice in the Jazz locker room.
“He can go five games without playing, and then he starts, and I think that his professionalism shows up in those moments,” said Jazz head coach Will Hardy.
“It’s a really good example for the rest of the young players — that just because in a certain moment you’re not getting what you want, you have to continue to prepare to play, and prepare like you’re going to play 35 minutes. And Svi does that every day — he models really, really good behavior for our young players.”
Mykahiliuk signed a four-year, $15 million contract with the Jazz last summer and has relished the role he’s carved out in Utah, though he acknowledged it’s been a change to go from being one of the youngest players on the Celtics to one of the oldest on the Jazz. Mykhailiuk and fellow ex-Celtic Jaden Springer are the only Jazz players with NBA championship experience.
“It’s very exciting,” he said. “Obviously, I get to play with the young guys, teach them, give them my experience, what it’s been like, and what we got to do to get better and reach our full potential.”
So, what stood out most to Mykhailiuk from his year with the Celtics?
The answer is one the Celtics routinely echoed throughout their title run — and continue to do so as they look to go back-to-back this season.
“If you want to win, you got to sacrifice — in some ways playing time, in some ways stats,” he said. “Whatever it is, there’s always gonna be sacrifice if you want to go to the next level and reach your goal.”
