New Boston Celtics center Mitchell Robinson was absent from the team's introductory press conference Tuesday due to a family emergency, as his brother, Zeek, was struck by a car while jogging. The incident occurred Tuesday, according to a Facebook post from the victim's grandfather. Robinson, who had been acquired by the Celtics in July on a three-year, $47.4 million contract, reshared the post on his own social media, writing, "Prayers for my little brother my dawg can’t catch a break." The Celtics organization stated that Robinson's absence was for personal reasons and that they "look forward to introducing [Robinson] soon."
Robinson, who played his first eight NBA seasons with the New York Knicks, was a key contributor to their 2026 NBA championship victory. The 7-footer averaged 5.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game during the past season, shooting 72.3 percent from the field. His 4.2 offensive rebounds per game ranked second in the league.
The press conference proceeded with the introductions of other new players, including Paul George and Mike Conley Jr. Robinson later shared on his Instagram Story a video of himself practicing basketball at his alma mater, Chalmette High School in Louisiana, and a clip from a music video.