© Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Svi Mykhailiuk Caps Season of Sacrifice with Career Night: 'Got to be Prepared'
Svi Mykhailiuk received the pass near mid-court and tapped it up quickly to Payton Pritchard. As the marksman two-guard was sprinting behind him to his left, Pritchard floated up the lob with one hand, and there was Mykhailiuk bringing it down hard with a two-handed alley-oop poster to rock the rim, electrifying the fans at TD Garden.
Mykhailiuk tied his career-high with 26 points on 10-13 shooting, including six of eight from three, to go with five assists and five rebounds. It was the most points he had recorded since Apr. 2, 2023, when Mykhailiuk was a member of the Charlotte Hornets.
“I just took what the game gave me,” voiced Mykhailiuk after matching his personal best in Boston's 132-122 win over the Washington Wizards in Sunday's regular-season finale. “I took some more shots, open shots, made some shots early. I feel like that gave me a little more confidence.”
At the podium, Joe Mazzulla conveyed, “When we asked Svi to come here, one of the things I told him was it was going to be inconsistent at times, but because of how we play, we’re going to rely on you guys to win us games, so the things you do daily are important, and he bought into that."
At just 26 years old, the former Kansas Jayhawk has bounced around as a journeyman in the NBA. Once a Los Angeles Laker, Toronto Raptor, and Detroit Piston, Mykhailiuk shot over 42 percent in 32 games with the Hornets and New York Knicks last season. He made the most of his opportunity in his final 10 games in Charlotte last year, putting up 16 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.8 rebounds, shooting 39.4 from three.
The sharpshooter was still a free agent when September arrived while contemplating going to play in Greece. But with the Celtics reaching out, he knew his skillset could complement Boston’s championship pursuit. Making the most of his opportunities throughout the season, Mykhailiuk has shown he can deliver at any time when his number is called upon.
“We knew we were gonna have the opportunity to play a lot of minutes,” said the Ukranian native, referring to an extended rotation his head coach has repeatedly trusted to help the Celtics build a 64-18 record, which earned them home-court advantage throughout their playoff run. “Everybody came prepared, everybody was excited to get on the court and (have more) playing time, and everybody wanted to win and finish the regular season on the right note and start preparing for the playoffs.”
Praising his ability to stay ready for when his opportunities arrive, Mazzulla expressed,“Svi’s an NBA player, done a lot of great things for us, and I love his work ethic on a daily basis, and he helped us win games this year; that’s important."
His bench boss's honesty about his role and maintaining communication with him as the season has progressed has helped Mykhailiuk handle the inconsistent nature of his playing time. And on a team where sacrificing has been a theme crucial to their success, Mykhailiuk is happy to help however he's asked to contribute.
“[Mazzulla] mentioned that during the season a lot and it makes you cautious and makes you understand that you actually have to be prepared at any time for whatever happens,” Mykhailiuk said. “We understand that we are one of the best teams in the league and we have really big goals, so for me personally to help the team win, you’ve just always got to be prepared.”
Further Reading
Payton Pritchard Prepared for Any Playoff Role: 'Here to Win a Championship'
After Career Night, Reflective Payton Pritchard Discusses NBA Journey and His Ultimate Pursuit
'Nip That in the Bud': Celtics Address End-of-Season Struggles
Jrue Holiday on Celtics Extension: 'Try to Get More Banners, Get More Rings'
Aiming to Maximize Championship Window, Celtics Extend Jrue Holiday
Jaylen Brown Shares What Latest Milestone Means to Him
Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented
Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'
Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'
Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'
