John Karalis

Joined: Jan 17, 2026

John Karalis is a 20-year veteran of Celtics coverage and was nominated for NSMA's Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year in 2019. He has hosted the Locked On Celtics podcast since 2016 and has written two books about the Celtics. John was born and raised in Pawtucket, RI. He graduated from Shea High School in Pawtucket, where he played football, soccer, baseball, and basketball and was captain of the baseball and basketball teams. John graduated from Emerson College in Boston with a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism and was a member of their Gold Key Honor Society. He was a four-year starter and two-year captain of the Men’s Basketball team, and remains one of the school's top all-time scorers, and Emerson's all-time leading rebounder. He is also the first Emerson College player to play professional basketball (Greece). John started his career in television, producing and creating shows since 1997. He spent nine years at WBZ, launching two different news and lifestyle shows before ascending to Executive Producer and Managing Editor. He then went to New York, where he was a producer and reporter until 2018. John is one of Boston’s original Celtics bloggers, creating RedsArmy.com in 2006. In 2018, John joined the Celtics beat full-time for MassLive.com and then went to Boston Sports Journal in 2021, where he covered the Celtics for five years. He has hosted the Locked On Celtics podcast since 2016, and it currently ranks as the #1 Boston Celtics podcast on iTunes and Spotify rankings. He is also one of the co-hosts of the Locked on NBA podcast.

Oct 14, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) is congratulated by Boston Celtics center Mitchell Robinson (4) after making a basket during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Oct 14, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Royce O'Neale (00) guards Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Oct 14, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) controls the ball while Charlotte Hornets forward Royce O'Neale (00) defends during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Oct 10, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Paul George (13) controls the ball while Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) defends during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Sep 28, 2026; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) and guard Mike Conley (45) during media day at Auerbach Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

The deal between Pritcahrd and the Boston Celtics looks like a real win-win deal that gives both sides flexibility and security at the same time

Feb 14, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla talks with forward Sam Hauser (30) from the sideline at they take on the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

This is the time to feel good about yourself in the NBA, but Sam Hauser suggests the plan Joe Mazzulla had for the team is already paying off

Oct 10, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Jabari Walker (33) defends Boston Celtics center Mitchell Robinson (4) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

The way Mitchell Robinson plays will help the Celtics a lot, but they're asking him to be more dynamic as a center, and that will help him and the team grow a lot more.

Oct 10, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) is congratulated by forward Paul George (13) after making a basket during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

They looked good on the floor together, but after the game, both Tatum and George revealed that this was their first time playing on the same side during the entire training camp so far.

Oct 10, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Justin Edwards (11) defends Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Jayson Tatum looked great and there was a lot of positive coming out of the Celtics nearly 40-point win over the Sixers.

Mar 14, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Baylor Scheierman (55) passes the ball against the Washington Wizards during the first half at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

We're looking to see how players can improve, and in this video breakdown of Baylor Scheierman reading the game, we saw some good and some bad.

Oct 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Boston Celtics center Luka Garza (52) shoots against Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) during the first half of a preseason game at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images

The hustle he learned in his younger days is what drives him to go get the ball off the glass and do the thing everyone loves to do — score.

Oct 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Boston Celtics guard Devin Carter (99) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Tyrese Proctor (24) reach for a loose ball during the second half of a preseason game at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images

After being traded and waived, Carter is desperately trying to prove he still belongs in the NBA, and he has one advantage that could help him stick with the Celtics, beyond what he's showing on the floor

Oct 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Boston Celtics center Luka Garza (52) shoots against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson (20) during the first half of a preseason game at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images

The Celtics rested most of their regulars, but there was plenty to take away from their 124-113 win over the Cavs in their first preseason game of the year.

Feb 25, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Boston Celtics Joe Mazzulla reacts after a play during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

When the Celtics take the floor against the Cavs on Thursday night, Mazzulla will be in the locker room, not on the sidelines.

Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, and Mike Conley practice at The Citadel in Charleston, SC, with Joe Mazzulla and Paul George in the background.

The Celtics take on the Cavs at 7 p.m., finally getting a chance to put the stuff they've practiced onto the floor against a real opponent.

Sep 28, 2026; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics center Mitchell Robinson (4) talks to reporters during media day at Auerbach Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

The Celtics keep their practice stuff close to the vest, but the early reviews of Mitchell Robinson's training camp so far are pretty glowing

John Karalis

Joined: Jan 17, 2026

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