Maine Red Claws Renamed Maine Celtics

MAINE RED CLAWS RENAMED MAINE CELTICS

A New Chapter Begins for Maine’s NBA G League Franchise

PORTLAND, Maine – May 24, 2021 – The Boston Celtics today unveiled a new look and new name for their NBA G League franchise. Starting today, the Maine Red Claws will be known as the Maine Celtics. This new chapter of Celtics basketball in Maine will go into effect for the upcoming 2021-22 NBA G League season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnMEeyK09VU

“I’m as excited about this change as I was when we started the Maine Red Claws back in 2009,” said Maine Celtics Team President Dajuan Eubanks. “Directly aligning our franchise name with the iconic Boston Celtics brand creates a new era of heritage building for basketball here in Maine.”

“When we purchased the Maine franchise in 2019, we immediately made that organization a part of our family,” said Boston Celtics Team President Rich Gotham. “The decision to rename the team to ‘Maine Celtics’ is the next step in that evolution, and a nod to our diehard fan base, which extends throughout the great state of Maine.”

Founded in 2009 the Maine Red Claws have been a pillar of success in the Portland sports community, both on and off the court. The history of the Celtics and Maine goes back almost to the beginning of the Boston Celtics franchise. Boston started coming to Maine in 1947 for exhibition games and barnstorming tours across the state. The Celtics even played a regular season game at the then-brand-new Bangor Auditorium in 1955.

“Maine’s evolution to further align the team with the Boston Celtics is as exciting for the team’s fans as it is for the league,” said NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim. “Fans in Portland have long enjoyed the team’s focus on development and becoming the Celtics really highlights that commitment. I can’t wait to visit Portland to watch the team in green next season.”

Unum will continue to be the presenting partner of the Maine Celtics, which will return to the Portland Expo for the start of the 2021-22 NBA G League season. The league is expected to resume with a full, 50-game regular season starting this fall.