Jordan Walsh joins the Celtics in Maine.
Jordan Walsh, a rookie with the Celtics, was highly praised following his final trip with the parent club, which included his first opportunity to play meaningful rotational minutes.
Jordan Walsh has developed a habit of making the most of his time with the parent team.
During the Celtics’ 131-91 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, Marcus Smart, the 38th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, scored his first points in TD Garden. He did so in style with a two-handed jam.
His most recent assignment in Boston gave him his first opportunity at actual rotation minutes, which naturally caused him to get anxious. However, the 19-year-old wing had five boards, a steal, a rejection, and active defense. He also provided some good screens, one of which allowed Derrick White to score an easy pull-up jumper.
Walsh was thereafter praised highly by Joe Mazzulla and his teammates.
While there, he also gets priceless practice reps, where he challenges himself and gets one-on-one reps against players like Jaylen Brown, all while polishing his game.
Following his 100th victory as the NBA bench boss, Mazzulla said, “Since Christmas, he came on the West Coast trip with us, we made a conscientious effort to have an understanding defense is how you make it in this league as a young player and what you do in the G League from a statistical standpoint is important, but it’s more important about your daily approach, your professionalism, and your defense.”
Light on his feet and possessing a seven-foot-three wingspan, the six-foot-seven forward can wreak havoc on defense when combined with his high motor. He deserves praise for his defensive intensity when playing for the Celtics’ G League affiliate in Maine, as well as for sticking to his role as an isolation scorer rather than trying to become one. The former Arkansas Razorback is a consistent sprinter to the corners and frequently operates off the ball.
And the Celtics have sent Walsh to Maine so he can continue to get game reps that would probably only become available with the parent club if they emptied the bench at the end of a matchup. Meanwhile, Boston resumes regular season play against the Chicago Bulls in the Windy City, where Xavier Tillman is set to make his team debut.
But as the C’s ease into this last stretch leading up to the playoffs, they enjoy a six-game advantage over the second-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference. Walsh will likely have more NBA opportunities before his rookie season ends.
