Morning Sports Update

Austin Ainge said that Celtics free agents took less money to return to Boston

"It just feels really good [to have] guys that we care about a lot to come back and try to go for another one."

Celtics free agency
Celtics players celebrating after defeating the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Dylan Buell/Getty Images

By Hayden Bird

Austin Ainge on Celtics players returning: As has already been noted, it’s rare that an NBA team attempts to repeat with essentially its entire roster after winning a championship.

But with the re-signing of several players, including Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman and Neemias Queta, Boston is in a position to defend its title with a near-complete return of the 2023-24 team.

Part of this was achieved by the team’s front office tying up star players with contract extensions earlier in the year (or, in the case of Jayson Tatum, at the start of the offseason).

Another part of it is how satisfied players seem to be as part of the current Celtics setup. Assistant general manager Austin Ainge touched on this during his press availability on Monday, claiming that a few players took less money to stay in Boston.

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“Extremely grateful,” Ainge told reporters regarding his feelings about the Celtics’ free agent experience. “We had some guys turn down more money other places to come back.”

With the draft also now completed, Boston basically knows its roster for the upcoming season. For Celtics fans, that’s obviously good news given what the team accomplished only weeks ago.

“It just feels really good [to have] guys that we care about a lot to come back and try to go for another one,” Ainge concluded.

Trivia: Who is the most recent NBA player to repeat as Finals MVP?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: He played for the most recent team to repeat.

Scores and schedules:

Tonight, the Red Sox begin a three-game series against the Athletics at Fenway Park. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m.

For soccer fans, also note that the first European Championship semifinal begins today at 3 p.m. in the highly-anticipated France-Spain matchup. Tonight, Canada faces Argentina in the first Copa America semifinal at 8 p.m.

More from Boston.com:

Cooper Flagg’s performance vs. Team USA: Appearing in a scrimmage as part of a select team to offer Team USA some competition before the Paris Olympics, Maine native Cooper Flagg showed some of the reasons why he’s one of the highest rated recruits in college basketball.

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The Duke-bound Flagg is still just 17, but showed plenty of ability and skill against some of the best players in the world.

On this day: In 1946, the MLB All-Star Game was held at Fenway Park. The hometown team was also in the midst of a glittering season, accounting for eight spots on the American League roster.

At the heart of the roster was, naturally, Ted Williams. The “Splendid Splinter” reveled in the spotlight, going 4-for-4 with two home runs in a 12-0 American League rout of the National League.

The highlight moment arrived in the eighth inning when N.L. reliever Rip Sewell tried to use his “Eephus pitch” multiple times against Williams. The Boston slugger watched the first one go by for a ball, but stepped into the second attempt and drove it over the right field fence. It was, as Sewell lamented after the fact, “the only home run that was ever hit off the ‘blooper ball’ in 10 years.”

Daily highlight: American Taylor Fritz used a full-extension dive to win the point during his Monday Wimbledon match against No. 4 ranked Alex Zverev. Fritz staged a dramatic rally from two sets down to eventually pull off the upset to advance to the quarterfinals.

Trivia answer: Kevin Durant

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