Boston, MA
Boston Celtics surprise addition shines in Summer League win over Grizzlies
LAS VEGAS — The Celtics released their Summer League roster on Tuesday but made one major addition before Friday’s opener against the Grizzlies. Boston brought aboard free agent center Charles Bassey to the roster in a surprise move, as the big man joined Amari Williams and Kenneth Lofton Jr. as the team’s primary bigs in Las Vegas.
“It was last-minute,” Bassey said. “I got a call from my agent and flew out the next day and started training camp with them. It’s been good, man. It’s been good from training camp to today’s game. The energy has been great, vibing with these guys and coaches, it’s been fun. Everything’s been good.
Bassey is arguably the most accomplished player in Las Vegas on the Celtics roster, having played four seasons already in the league, including the last three years in San Antonio. The Celtics have previously had interest in the 6-foot-10 center per a source but now there is clear opportunity in the team’s frontcourt following major offseason changes. The chance for a spot likely led Bassey to make a return to Summer League, an unusual move for a player who has played four seasons in the league.
Bassey clearly wants to showcase himself for a potential roster opportunity in Boston and did so well on Friday night, posting a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in just 18 minutes off the bench in the Celtics’ 92-78 win over the Grizzlies.
Summer League coach Matt Reynolds raved about Bassey’s impact after the win and how he’s acclimated after joining the roster so late into training camp.
“We found out he was going to join the team shortly before we got started with day one,” Reynolds said. “He did not participate in the live portion day one but he came in day two, again, as we talked about earlier, terminology and concepts, he was behind in that regard, but it was just clear that that guy can make an impact in the game and you saw that throughout the course of the game today. I think he was huge for us.”
Bassey finished with a team-high plus-20 and was a force on both ends of the floor with his rebounding (seven offensive boards) and rim protection (two blocks). He was also efficient with his offense, shooting 7-of-8 from the field, dominating the Grizzlies overmatched big men on the interior with his physicality. ‘’
“Great effort, rebounding, blocking shots, rim protection,” Bassey said of his skillset. “I bring great defense to the team. I just play my role. I know what a team needs from me and I know what they want from me and I do it every night.”
The Celtics have arguably the shallowest depth chart at center in the NBA at this point, with Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman and Luka Garza as the team’s only true bigs. Boston’s 15-man roster is full for the time being, but there are some non-guaranteed deals that could be moved. Another trade could also bring a chance to make a final roster.
Whether that chance comes for Bassey remains to be seen, but he looked like a player Friday that deserves a longer look to potentially bolster a very thin part of the depth chart in Boston.
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The FIFA World Cup is coming to Massachusetts, and when it comes to having a place for people to hang out together, there will be a free fan zone where everyone can celebrate the big event.
Seven World Cup matches will take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA this summer, and the first one is right around the corner, to be played on June 13, with Scotland taking on Haiti.
Fan Zones are a public space to watch the game for people who don’t have tickets to the actual game. Held in public places, they broadcast the mach on giant screens to offer an immersive experience to watch the game, according to FIFA>
“At the heart of FIFA Fan Festival Boston, (a) Cultural Showcase will ignite the stage with a vibrant celebration of the spirit, creativity, and cultural heartbeat of Boston and communities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” FIFA said.
Where will the fan zone be located when the World Cup games start in just 11 days?
Where is the World Cup fan zone going to be in Massachusetts?
The official FIFA Fan Festival for the 2026 World Cup in Boston will be located at Boston City Hall Plaza at 1 City Hall Sq. Boston, MA.
“The festival will run daily from June 12 through June 27, offering live match broadcasts, cultural showcases, food vendors, and entertainment,” according to FIFA.
The fan zone will open between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and will stay open until after dark, between 8:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. according to reports.
Activities at the fan zone
Here are some of the offerings at the fan zone in Boston, according to the FIFA website:
- Live broadcasts: Giant outdoor screens that broadcast tournament matches in high-definition.
- Entertainment & music: Live concerts, DJ sets, and performances celebrating global culture.
- Interactive activations: Skills challenges, mini-pitches, inflatable games, and sponsor booths.
- Food & merch: International food stalls, local beverage offerings, and official tournament merchandise.
How to go to the fan zone
While the game is free, you do need to register in advance.
“You can select which days and matches you plan to attend through the FIFA World Cup Boston 2026 website or the Meet Boston events page. Up to six people can register on a single application,” the World Cup Boston website says.
So you’re saying there’s a chance? Despite an abysmal start to the 2026 season, the Boston Red Sox remain in the mix for a playoff spot. At least according to FanGraphs, who gives the club a 27.1% chance of reaching the postseason.
Boston’s likely path to October means winning the wild card. FanGraphs gives the Red Sox a 26.1% chance of winning an American League wild card. The team currently sits threes games back of the third and final wild card, despite a record of 25-33.
Don’t look for a division title this year in Beantown. FanGraphs gives the Red Sox a 1% chance of winning the AL East. Which makes sense, since the team currently sits in last place, 11.5 games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays.
But SI’s Tom Verducci and Will Laws thinks Boston has a much tougher chance of making the playoffs. In their deep dive of the postseason, the pair came up with what they call the “Line of Doom.” According to their research, a team that starts “no better than 23–31 and your season is almost over only one-third of the way through the schedule.” Here’s why.
“In the wild card era (since 1995), only one team made the postseason starting with less than 22 wins in the first 54 games, the 2005 Astros (20–34). Of the 231 teams to start 23–31 or worse, only seven made the playoffs—once every 33 times,” Verducci and Laws note.
“Since the postseason field expanded in 2022, 31 teams began 23–31 or worse. Only one, the 2024 Mets (22–32), made the playoffs. That leaves such slow starters with a 1 in 31 chance—virtually the same as the larger sample size,” the pair add.
“The fact is one-third of the season does a good job separating pretenders from contenders. And as the calendar flips to June, understand that the playoff spots won’t change very much. In the four seasons with 12 playoff spots up for grabs, teams in playoff position when May ended kept a playoff spot 73% of the time—35 of 48 teams,” Verducci and Laws conclude.
So what does this have to do with the Red Sox, you ask? It’s Boston’s record after 54 games: 23-31. The “Line of Doom.”
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