NBA

‘NBA on TNT’ roadshow is coming to Boston City Hall Plaza for the Celtics’ season opener

The event is free and open to the public.

Charles Barkley will join Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal to host the event.

By Emma Healy, The Boston Globe

October 17, 2024

2 minutes to read

The Celtics tip off the 2024-25 season against the Knicks on Tuesday, Oct. 22, but the festivities will begin at City Hall Plaza hours before Boston raises its 18th championship banner to the rafters of TD Garden.

TNT will do a live presentation of “Inside the NBA” with its studio team of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal.

The “NBA on TNT American Express Roadshow” will run from 4:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. at City Hall Plaza. In addition to games, contests, and giveaways, the show will feature a pregame performance by country music rising star Shaboozey (”A Bar Song”) and a postgame performance by pop artist Benson Boone (”Beautiful Things”).

The event is free and open to the public, and American Express card holders will have access to a dedicated priority entrance on Congress Street near City Hall Plaza.

.@NBAonTNT is coming to City Hall Plaza 👀

Join us for special coverage of Opening Night with live music from @ShaboozeysJeans and @bensonboone pic.twitter.com/FuNhDESsKb

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 16, 2024

Video boards will display TNT’s live coverage throughout the event, including the broadcast of Boston’s opener against the Knicks, which tips off at TD Garden at 7:30 p.m. The Celtics will raise the NBA-record 18th banner and receive their championship rings before the game.

The Celtics are the betting favorites to repeat as NBA champions, but a second consecutive title won’t be easy to attain. No team has won back-to-back NBA championships since the Warriors in 2017-18.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has been insistent that this is a different season, and the recent championship has no bearing on this year.

“The goal is to create an environment and mindset of we have to continue to chip away at greatness and go after that and make it difficult,” he said during training camp. “Create an environment similar to the regular season. There’s gonna be days where we’re not at our best at practice and that’s going to happen in games and we’ve got to find ways to come out on top when it’s not going our way.”