What happened: Chris Cenac Jr., a first-round pick of the Boston Celtics, described the grueling conditioning work behind his preparation for the NBA. He pointed to a single training machine as central to building the stamina he expects the pro game to demand, framing the process as one that pushes the body to the edge before it pays off.

Why it matters: Conditioning is one of the steepest adjustments for any rookie stepping into an NBA rotation, and early buy-in on the physical side is often what separates first-year contributors from players who stall. For a Celtics team retooling its depth, a young big willing to embrace that work signals the kind of readiness Boston will want as it shapes the 2026-27 roster.

What to watch: Watch how Cenac Jr.'s conditioning translates once Boston opens training camp ahead of the 2026-27 season and the rotation picture begins to take shape.