After the Boston Celtics landed in Abu Dhabi and prepared to begin preseason play against the Denver Nuggets, head coach Joe Mazzulla was spotted sporting a one-of-a-kind customized t-shirt made specifically to commemorate the reigning champions and their upcoming journey this season.
Mazzulla shared the story behind the "2024-25 World Tour" Celtics shirt, reminiscent of an old-school t-shirt found at a Led Zeppelin concert concession stand in the 1960s -- a project that came to life courtesy of Celtics director of performance Art Horne.
"Art Horne made those for us," Mazzulla told NBC Sports Boston. "I think it's a really cool idea so we passed them out to begin the year. He does a really great job of just tying into the season so that was really cool. Art works in the offseason on just some different messaging things throughout there so he does a great job with that and he kind of brought that, maybe two weeks ago. It's pretty cool. It's fun. Art did a great job."
The back of the shirt lists each city the Celtics will visit, including Abu Dhabi, throughout the regular season. On the front side, a brightly-colored collage of Boston's Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard brings the unintentional fashion statement to a whole new level. It quickly became the eye-grabber following Boston's 13-hour flight to the Middle East on Wednesday, and for now, isn't available for purchase from the public.
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The Celtics, after three-plus-months off offseason preparation, Paris Olympic controversy, ownership uncertainty and outside doubters ready to chirp througout another 82-game stretch, will return to action to face the Nuggets on Friday -- at 12 p.m. ET -- and Sunday -- at 10 a.m. -- before returning home.
Featured image via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
