Former Syracuse basketball forward reunites with Celtics at White House visit

WASHINGTON — The Celtics nearly brought back their entire championship roster this year from the 2023-24 title team with 13 of the 15 players returning. Svi Mykhailiuk left Boston for a four-year contract with the Utah Jazz but one other player departure is still a bit surprising a few months later. Oshae Brissett turned down a player option to return to Boston and still remains a free agent five months later amid a tough market for veteran role players.
When and where Brissett returns to the NBA remains to be seen but he spent Thursday back with his former teammates at the White House as they celebrated their 2024 NBA championship with President Joe Biden in front of a large crowd on the Rose Garden lawn.
“It was fun to see Oshae Brissett here,” Celtics vice president of basketball operations Mike Warren said. “He hasn’t been around this year but it was cool for him. We got him his ring. That was a neat moment.”
Brissett signed a two-year deal with the Celtics before last season, with a player option for year two. He declined his $2.58 million option in hopes of landing more playing time with another team. However, he did not latch on with any NBA squads before training camp and has been seen on social media training in Canada, potentially awaiting his next chance.
Brissett averaged a career-low 11.5 minutes per game in 55 games for the Celtics last season while averaging 3.7 points and 2.9 rebounds. Once Boston made it to the playoffs, his role diminished as Brissett averaged 5.5 minutes in just 10 appearances. However, he was a big part of the identity on Boston’s bench and still holds a strong relationship with several players on the roster, including Derrick White.
“It was really cool to see Brissy again and have him be here and a part of it,” White said after the ceremony. “Obviously, he was a big member of our team last year, so it was great to have him here and get the old gang back together.”
It’s unclear exactly what type of opportunity Brissett is seeking this season, whether in the NBA or aboard. The Celtics still do have an open roster spot but are unlikely to fill it until after the trade deadline. Whether Brissett is still on the open market at that point bears watching but for one afternoon, he was a Celtic once again.