Ja’Whaun Bentley talked about his Celtics fandom and supporting different New England groups

Patriots

“We’re all competing for the New England space.”

Ja’Whaun Bentley through the Patriots’ 2022 season. Christian Petersen/Getty Pictures

Relating to the Celtics‘ present playoff run, Patriots gamers are identical to some other fan: They’re excited, however making an attempt to not jinx something.

Ja’Whaun Bentley, one of many Patriots’ defensive captains, mentioned he shall be in attendance for Tuesday evening’s Recreation 5 of the Celtics-76ers Japanese Convention semifinals.

“We want a win right now,” Bentley mentioned throughout his press convention earlier on Tuesday. The Celtics are at the moment tied with Philadelphia within the best-of-seven sequence, 2-2.

“I’m not going to say an excessive amount of, I don’t need to jinx them,” he shortly added, reiterating his message on Twitter afterward.

“I really like having a chance to go see these guys play of their component, particularly round playoff time,” mentioned Bentley. “It’s big-time basketball. The 76ers are giving us a pleasant little run for our cash, so I’m excited for the sport tonight.”

Requested in regards to the camaraderie between native groups, the 26-year-old linebacker mentioned he appreciates supporting different athletes (and, in flip, after they help the Patriots).

“You’re all representing the identical space, so that you’re in a position to see the impact,” Bentley mentioned. “When we now have our video games on Sundays, seeing these guys on the sideline, you form of understand how tight-knit the whole lot actually is.

“We’re all competing for the New England space,” he continued. “So it all the time places just a little smile in your face while you see completely different guys from completely different groups displaying help and displaying love, whether or not they’re followers of the group or not, as a result of generally we put that on them — such as you is perhaps from a unique space. You don’t essentially should be a fan of the group, however simply displaying help for the group positively means loads.”

Although he didn’t develop up in New England, Bentley identified that his Celtics fandom started earlier than he was chosen by the Patriots within the fifth spherical of the 2018 NFL Draft.

“I truly grew up a [Celtics] fan,” Bentley defined. “Rising up [watching] Ray Allen, Eddie Home, KG — all these guys — Paul Pierce, that period.”

“All the time preferred seeing, surprisingly, good protection round that point,” Bentley joked, given his place in soccer. “They had been stopping groups at like 80 factors a sport at that second, so it was good instances for certain.”

The Celtics and 76ers tip off at TD Backyard on Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. Recreation 6 will happen on Thursday evening in Philadelphia, additionally at 7:30 p.m.

Originally posted 2023-05-09 18:47:45.