Macklin Celebrini was contemplating his next hockey stop.
The teenage star poised to join the U.S. college hockey ranks for the 2023-24 season had plenty of NCAA schools pining for his services back in June 2022.
The NBA Finals — more specifically, the teams involved — would provide a twist that eventually sealed the Vancouver product's collegiate destination.
And help propel him onto Canada's roster for the 2024 world junior hockey championship.
Celebrini's dad, Rick, is director of sports medicine and performance for the Golden State Warriors, who were facing the Boston Celtics for the Larry O'Brien Trophy that spring.