Oshae Brissett Discusses Facing Former Team Ahead of Celtics-Pacers Game

The first player the Boston Celtics signed this summer was former Indiana Pacers forward Oshae Brissett.

The Toronto, Ontario native shined in his new team's 119-111 win over the Miami Heat in last Friday's home opener, wreaking havoc on the offensive glass and consistently creating extra possessions, giving the hosts a needed infusion of energy.

After the game, his head coach, Joe Mazzulla, said of Brissett's impact, "He changed the game."

The former Syracuse Orange star's next opportunity to do so comes Wednesday night against the franchise he spent the past three years with.

At Wednesday morning's shoot around, the six-foot-seven forward conveyed of his time with the Pacers, "I met a whole bunch of guys that I feel like (I'm) going to be friends with forever.

"It's genuine relationships, and I think that goes a long way, especially being over there and trying to figure out my role and stuff. I had those guys to count on, to lean on, talk to, and grow in that aspect. So, it was great. I love those guys; (I) love the organization. (Pacers general manager) Chad (Buchanan) and KP (Indiana's president of basketball operations, Kevin Pritchard) are guys that I feel like I can talk to whenever, especially Chad, being a guy that really helped me out coming out of the G League when I was with the Madden in the G League bubble. Those are guys that I always respect and always thank for me being here for sure."

So, what prompted Brissett to leave a situation he loved to come to Boston?

"It was more of like a mutual respect, talking to Chad, he understood where I am right now in my career and what I need to go forward, and we talked on the phone a couple of times, and he felt like, and myself felt like it was time for a change and I felt like I need to be here with a team that's really going in that championship direction. Not to say they aren't. Obviously, they're looking for that, but right now, they're building up, and they drafted a couple of young guys. So, that's what they're working to do. So, it's nothing but love with the Pacers, and like I said, I always respect them and always thank them for me being here."

Thanks to the trade that made Malcolm Brogdon a Celtic last season, one where he earned Sixth Man of the Year honors before a forearm injury derailed his playoff production, Brissett teamed with Aaron Nesmith, who Boston selected 14th overall, investing a lottery pick in him in 2020.

The former Vanderbilt star struggled to see the court, playing behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. But on a Pacers team embracing a rebuild, he got an opportunity his former teammate said built his confidence up.

Nesmith recently signed a three-year, $33 million extension, then generated a career-high 26 points in a victory vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"Seeing the player that he's become now, I'm super happy for him," voiced Brissett. "I know that guy works his tail off. He was always in the gym, and you see him get paid; I texted him immediately, just shout him out because I know he's worked hard to get where he's at now. So, it's great; it's great to see."

The 25-year-old forward also gave his perspective on Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle, who won a championship as a player on the 1986 Celtics and as head coach of the 2011 Dallas Mavericks, compared to his new bench boss Joe Mazzulla.

"Both great basketball minds, honestly. Different, obviously, age and experience, whatever. But I feel like learning from them is two different sides, but also very beneficial for me, especially. I feel like Joe is a guy that I can really talk to and compare and sit down and have a good conversation with because he's seen my position of guys in this type of organization. And I feel like from jump from the summer, he's laid out how he wants me to play and how he wants me to be, and that goes a long way for sure. And you know, Carlisle is the type of guy who really leads by, I don't want to say example because he's not playing, but his past experiences and the guys that he's seen come through in his tenure over in Dallas. So, it's two different sides of learning and teaching. But I feel like both (are) very beneficial."