The Maine Celtics: Unlikely Heroes of Hoops …
PORTLAND – Before you think the Maine Celtics’ secret to basketball glory is practicing behind closed doors with a mystic basketball guru, think again. They went the quintessential Maine way—lobster catching! Coach Tyler Lashbrook, determined to tie his team tighter than a pair of skinny jeans, figured that an expedition to catch lobsters was the perfect start. The message was simple: “Success starts with crustaceans!”
Meet Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet, the not-so-famous names who quietly plotted their NBA takeover from the peaceful lands of Maine, instead of the neon lights of Boston. It seems that tenacity and a sense of humor (or at least, a taste for seafood) were all that some needed to snag their spot on the big league’s championship roster. Exhibit A: Hauser’s journey from a two-way player in 2021 to a multi-million-dollar contract and three-point heroics in the NBA Finals.
Meanwhile, the Maine Celtics’ invisible strength is their “Stay Ready Group.” These unsung bench heroes may not always wear superhero capes—or play all the minutes—but they bring the noise where it counts, whether rebounding, cheering, or blocking like no one’s watching. With a key assist from trade-secret lobsters, they’re gunning for a franchise-first G League title!
