Boston Celtics two way big man Mfiondu Kabengele may be called on to play a much bigger role with the Celtics than most two way players tend to be in any given season with their respective parent club. But Kabengele is not your typical G League player nor Boston a team in a typical position.
Boston’s two way big will help the team fill in for their higher-minutes big men to help them weather injury and regular-season mileage, with Kabengele also being a bit older and a first-round pick who has yet to be given the sort of opportunity he has with the Celtics. So far, he’s also had some help from at least one of the bigs he’ll help spell in veteran forward Al Horford.
“Al is so cool and so calm and very welcoming for a guy who is so well established,” related Kabengele to CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning after a recent practice with the team.
Boston Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla is leaning into the unknown this preseason. https://t.co/xwGqZP7Rr1
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 2, 2022
“I guess you can say there might be ego, he went to the finals, was an All-Star, all these kinds of things,” smiled Kabengele “But just the level of humbleness and poise that’s around him, it’s been great.”
“I’ll ask him stuff about coverages, footwork. But one thing of emphasis specifically is I would ask him about my foot placement. When I’m in the gap, should I have my lead foot up on my back, left foot down, and expose my chest and Al told me the best thing for me to do is to open up your chest so you can see the ball and see the man and create a little angle on both sides.”
“Those kinds of tips and tricks definitely helped me as a big,” he added.
‘I’ve got a lot of great people around me that help,’ says Boston Celtics’ Joe Mazzula on transition to interim coach https://t.co/YCSM4qKX3W
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 2, 2022
Kabengele will need all the help he can get given the size of the ask his new team has in wait for him with so few healthy bigs to start their 2022-23 campaign.
But with someone like Horford willing to work with the Florida State product, the Toronto native might just be up to the task.
Boston’s newest floor general is excited to get on the floor with his new team. https://t.co/yr4bMVHEtY
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 2, 2022
Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
