UConn transfer Aidan Mahaney reveals Boston Celtics star that inspired him growing up

UConn transfer Aidan Mahaney, now at UC Santa Barbara for his final year of eligibility, revealed that a former Boston Celtics guard was the first player to spark his interest in basketball.

On Saturday, during an interview with Storrs Central, Mahaney said two-time NBA champion Rajon Rondo was his favorite player growing up and linked that influence to the Celtics’ 2007–08 championship season.

“Favorite basketball player growing up was Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics,” Mahaney said.

The point guard, who was a two-time first-team All-WCC selection at Saint Mary’s, recalled watching Rondo during that title run when Mahaney was about five years old.

“I was just a young guard kind of coming up, and it was really around the time that I started to fall in love with the game of basketball. Think it was like that, oh 2007-08, championship run. So, I would have been, what, five, something like that. So, it was cool to see kind of fell in love with him, since.”

Nevertheless, the early exposure to Rondo’s play helped shape Mahaney’s connection to basketball.

Aidan Mahaney transfers to UC Santa Barbara for final college season

UC Santa Barbara has added UConn guard Aidan Mahaney through the transfer portal for his final year of college eligibility. The move marks Mahaney’s second transfer, following one season with the Huskies after his career at Saint Mary’s.

Mahaney appeared in limited action during the 2024–25 season at UConn, averaging 4.5 points and 1.3 assists in 12.2 minutes per game, according to Roto Wire.

College basketball reporter Jon Rothstein was the first to report the commitment.

“UConn transfer Aidan Mahaney tells me that he has committed to UC Santa Barbara,” Rothstein wrote on X. “Significant Big West News.”

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Mahaney returns to the West Coast to join UC Santa Barbara under coach Joe Pasternack. He will compete in the Big West Conference for his final collegiate season.

Also Read: Hours after Alex Karaban's return, Dan Hurley's UConn loses Aidan Mahaney to Big West program

About the author

Mohammad Asif Ansari is a journalist covering college football and basketball at Sportskeeda. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Technology and brings four years of experience as an NFL and EdTech writer.

While acknowledging the dominance of professional leagues like the NBA and NFL, Asif is drawn to the raw energy and unpredictability of college sports, particularly football and basketball.

Jalen Hurts stands out as Asif's all-time favorite college player, celebrated for his remarkable success on the football field and impressive leadership skills.

In his reporting, Asif seeks to capture the essence of college athletics, delving into the human stories behind the game. From the trials and triumphs of student-athletes to the strategic genius of coaches like Nick Saban, he strives to paint a vivid picture of the college sports landscape.

Asif ensures that his reporting is both informative and ethically sound, meticulously verifying sources and facts to provide readers with reliable and trustworthy content.

When not writing, Asif practices basic MMA, hones his biking skills and expands his language proficiency in Urdu and Arabic.

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Edited by Dipayan Moitra