How did Bill Chisholm feel at his first Celtics game since his ownership bid was accepted? ‘It's incredible'
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He had a lengthy chat with president of basketball operations Brad Stevens in front of the Celtics' bench, and All-Star forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown stopped to talk with him after concluding their pregame workouts.
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'It's incredible, and it's just such a privilege,' Chisholm told the Globe. 'My legs were shaking talking to Jayson and Jaylen.'
Added Kimberly: 'It's a dream come true for Bill, certainly, but I just keep thinking I'm going to faint. I'm seeing these people we've been watching for decades on television, and it's really unbelievable.'
Chisholm is the co-founder and managing partner of Symphony Technology Group, a private equity firm based in Menlo Park. So it was an easy choice for him to travel about 100 miles north to get his first up-close view of his basketball team. The setting made it all feel quite real.
'It's the most incredible feeling to think that maybe I can just play a tiny little part in the future,' Chisholm said, 'and now I'll just let these guys do what they're doing, let Brad do his thing. If I can help in any way, that's amazing to think about.'
Chisholm and Stevens spoke extensively last week, before Chisholm's bid was accepted by the Grousbeck family. Their conversation continued on the court Monday, and Chisholm made it clear he has no intention of disturbing a franchise that won an NBA title last season and is one of the favorites to claim the crown this year, too.
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'I just want to listen,' Chisholm said. 'I want to listen to what [Stevens] has to say and hear how he thinks about basketball. He's given me his sense of where the team is and where things are going, and I just want to help him any way I can. So, it's great. He's a basketball genius and there's no two ways about it, and it's a privilege to get to hear what he thinks about things.'
Tatum and Brown had separate conversations with Chisholm and offered their congratulations.
'I was just telling them, 'However I can help, let me know,' Chisholm said. 'I just want to be here to support you guys and I don't want to take much of your time because you have a real job at hand here tonight, and for the next couple months. So let's get it done, and if you need any help, let me know.' '
Brown said he was glad to meet Chisholm, who will eventually become lead governor for a franchise that is projected to owe about $500 million in salary and luxury taxes next season.
'He was just talking about his excitement level, which is fantastic,' Brown said. 'Obviously the Boston Celtics are one of the coolest organizations, a lot of history, a lot of prestige. You could hear the pride he was speaking to that, and he was just excited to be here and a part of the family.'
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Chisholm has mostly stayed out of the spotlight during his career in private equity, and little was known about him when he emerged as a finalist this month to buy the Celtics. But his time in relative anonymity appears to be coming to an end.
On Monday night, Celtics fans who infiltrated the Golden 1 Center yelled down to Chisholm as he stood on the court, offering support and fists pumps. On April 2, Chisholm will attend the Celtics' game against the Heat at TD Garden.
'There are moments that it sinks in, but when we get back to Boston Garden, that's what it's all going to be about,' he said. 'Boston fans are saying hi to me now and it's amazing. We travel so strong. I was looking here and it's almost all Boston fans. I'm a huge fan, first and foremost, and I'm glad to come and watch them play. And to feel like I'm a part of it a little bit? Wow, pretty cool.'
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at
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