Celtics: 2013MediaDAy

Media Day leftovers: Faverani ready to fight

September, 30, 2013
Sep 30
7:35
PM ET
WALTHAM, Mass. -- The health of rehabbing Rajon Rondo (ACL) and Jared Sullinger (back), and the arrival of Gerald Wallace were among the biggest headlines from Media Day with the Boston Celtics on Monday at the team's training facility. But here are a few leftover notes from the three-hour session that kicked off the 2013-14 season:

* FAVERANI READY TO FIGHT: We still haven't seen him on the floor, but Monday featured the media's first access with Brazilian import Vitor Faverani. The 6-foot-11, 265-pound center intercepted team director of player personnel Austin Ainge (who happens to be fluent in Spanish) and brought him to the podium to help navigate his first Q&A session. The slightly broken English only made the International Man of Mystery's responses that more entertaining. Like when he was asked to describe his style of play. "My playing style, I don’t know, I like to fight, play in the paint, rebounds, dunks, pick and rolls," said fighting Faverani. To solidify his physical nature, Ainge added his own analysis: "He loves to hit. He’s physical. He comes in and makes things happen and instigates contact." As for choosing No. 38, even after his preferred No. 13 became available when fellow Brazilian Fab Melo was traded away to Memphis, Faverani noted, "My friends, they played handball, and one day at my house, we’re eating lunch and my number every time is 13. He said, if you play with 38, I’ll get a tattoo for you. So I get the number 38." His friend now has a tattoo.

* BRADLEY FOCUSED ON BASKETBALL: September was an emotional roller coaster for Avery Bradley with the passing of his mother, Alicia, and the birth of his son, Avery Bradley III. Bradley largely steered clear of questions about his emotional state, but he did relent when asked about fatherhood. "It’s been amazing," he said. "I’ve been having my family and my girlfriend support me for this upcoming season. They all want to see me do well and they all want to see me continue to keep learning this game and keep becoming a better player." Asked later if basketball can be therapy after his mother's death, Bradley offered, "It’s always been therapy," as he departed the podium.

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Media Day: The season begins

September, 30, 2013
Sep 30
7:30
AM ET
The Boston Celtics formally welcome the 2013-14 season with Monday's Media Day at the team's practice facility in Waltham. Just about everyone in the organization -- players, coaches, front office, and ownership -- typically make the rounds, conducting preseason interviews (unbridled optimism even in transition years!) and recording promos for various outlets over a three-hour span. Players also don their home white jerseys for the first time and pose for photos.

While most everyone on the roster has spoken this offseason, there are three players that will be in the spotlight today:

* Rajon Rondo: The All-Star point guard tore his ACL in late January and underwent surgery in mid-February. Since then he's laid low, offering a couple minor updates on his rehab as Boston's 2012-13 season was winding down, but keeping mum all summer. After Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge noted last week that Rondo was unlikely to be ready for the start of the regular season, there's a lot of intrigue about where he's at his rehab and how he feels about the upcoming season as the leader of a new-look roster.

* Gerald Wallace: Wallace has yet to address the Boston media since being traded to the Celtics as part of the summer's nine-player mega-deal with Brooklyn. Ainge noted last Tuesday that he had had virtually no correspondence with Wallace, but downplayed that while suggesting it's often hard to track down veteran players in the offseason. Regardless, Wallace is due $30 million over the next three seasons and it should be interesting to hear his thoughts on joining the Celtics.

* Vitor Faverani: The Brazilian center, who has been cutting his pro basketball teeth in Spain, was Boston's lone offseason splurge, utilizing part of the mid-level exception to sign him to a three-year deal. He's been an international man of mystery this summer. He was scheduled to appear at a community event earlier this month, but a flareup of plantar fasciitis forced him to skip as he got some additional post-workout treatment. As the lone pure center on the roster, Faverani has a chance to earn immediate minutes in the NBA.

Media Day is often more about the sights than the sounds. We encourage you to keep an eye on our Twitter feed throughout the day for highlights from the event. The real work starts Tuesday when training camp opens in Newport, R.I., but Media Day officially ushers in the 2013-14 campaign.
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TEAM LEADERS

POINTS
Rajon Rondo
PTS AST STL MIN
13.7 11.1 1.8 37.4
OTHER LEADERS
ReboundsJ. Sullinger 5.9
AssistsR. Rondo 11.1
StealsR. Rondo 1.8
BlocksJ. Green 0.8