Familiar faces excited for second season with Celtics

PORTLAND, Maine. - There's plenty of 'new' at training camp for the 2025-26 Maine Celtics.

17 players are competing hard everyday for a spot on the roster and playing time as the season opener inches closer on November 7. Head Coach Phil Pressey and his coaching staff must trim the roster down to 13 before the Tip-Off Tournament begins. This year's Celtics will look different than previous seasons, with three, new Two-Way players leading the way in Ron Harper Jr., Max Shulga and Amari Williams.

While this is Harper Jr.'s first season on a Two-Way contract with Boston, it's his second stint with Maine. Harper Jr. appeared in 14 games with the Maine Celtics last season, averaging 14.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game in 24.6 minutes per contest in a Maine uniform. Harper Jr. left Maine early in the Regular Season after earning a Two-Way contract with the Detroit Pistons. Now back in Portland, Harper Jr. is excited to be back with a chance to grow in his new role.

"I had a great experience with the guys in Maine last year," Harper Jr. said. "Now coming back on a Two-Way is a full circle moment. It's a blessing. The fans at the Expo in Portland, Maine are the best fans in the G League, for sure. We got the best venue for sure and I'm excited to be back playing in front of our fans."

Harper Jr. isn't the only familiar face Maine Celtics fans will see at the Portland Expo this season. Hason Ward and Kameron Warrens return to Maine after spending their rookie seasons with the Celtics. Ward was the only Maine player to appear in all 50 games in 2024-25 where he averaged 7.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game on 66% shooting from the floor. Always willing to spend time with Celtics fans after home games, 'The Warden' is eager to put on a show in year two with Maine.

"I like Portland. Maine is good. Just excited to be back in the Expo," Ward said. "We love to bring excitement to the crowd and see the fans coming out to support us every game. It's good to see and I'm excited for that."

Defensively, Ward recorded 2.2 blocks per contest, which ranked inside the top 10 among G League rim defenders. After spending the NBA Summer League with Oklahoma City, Ward said he's focused on improving his consistency this season.

"Year two, I'm just trying to be more consistent," Ward explained. "I'm taking care of my body a lot more and I'm trying to be more intentional about what I do."

Warrens is back in green after appearing in 22 total games for the Maine Celtics in 2024-25. Warrens averaged 4.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game last season. The second-year guard lit up the Portland Expo on February 13, 2025, when Warrens scored 17 of his career-high 19 points in the third quarter to lead Maine to a thrilling victory over Long Island. That burst of energy that can lift an entire team is something Warrens looks to bring to Maine again in his second stint.

"That's just who I am as a person. I like to bring energy and bring the best out of people. I know the most 'together' team is going to win. That's what we try to do here in the G is win and move up. I'm ready to get things rolling."

Warrens was cut by the Maine Celtics after training camp last season, but found his way back on the roster as an opportunity opened up for the University of Mary guard. Warrens is excited to take another step forward with the Celtics in 2025.

"Super excited to get things started with this new group. I have more of a leadership role and I'm trying to help us build a new culture and a Celtics culture," Warrens said. "We're still getting to know each other, that is what training camp is all about. The best way to do that is to get to know everyone off the court. All of that off the court can translate on the court."

All three Maine returners were instrumental in the Maine Celtics reaching the NBA G League Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive season. As the competition at training camp continues to heat up, these familiar faces help set the expectations for the upcoming season.

"As the Celtics, we have a standard and the expectations are the expectations. We always go into a season wanting to win a championship, and that's the goal."

Training camp will build up to Maine's season opener on November 7 on the road in Greensboro. Maine returns home to the Portland Expo for the Celtics' home opener on November 14 against the Long Island Nets. Tickets are available now.