Boston Celtics forward Jordan Walsh has a big opportunity in front of him over the next week.
The 2023 second-round pick will play in his second straight Summer League, which starts Saturday for the Celtics, and it could be the first step in the 6-foot-7, 205-pound defensive-minded wing securing a spot in Boston’s rotation next season.
Walsh spent the majority of last season either playing in the G League or watching from the sidelines — he played in only nine games for the Celtics. But Walsh, who just turned 20 years old in March, feels like he gained a lot from that experience.
“I would say another thing is just being a better player than I was last year,” Walsh told reporters Friday from Las Vegas, per CLNS Media. “Showing improvement. Showing I’ve had a year in the NBA now (and) now I’m a way better player than I was last year.”
Walsh showed his potential in the G League last season when he averaged 14.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists to go along with shooting 42.6% from the field and 36.1% from 3-point range.
Even with Celtics bringing back basically every member of their championship team, there is an opening with it looking like Oshae Brissett could leave in free agency. Walsh could take over Brissett’s limited role next season as he continues to develop.
“I think I’ve gotten better at slowing the game down, changing my pace, I guess you could say,” Walsh said. “I feel like that’s the most important thing. I went with (player enhancement coach) Ross (McMains) slow-stepping a lot. Just slowing down. It doesn’t always have to be 100 miles per hour. It can be 20, 30 sometimes. I feel like that’s the focus I took after (last year’s) Summer League to try to apply to my game.”
Walsh will use the Summer League as a chance to showcase his improved skill set. He understands he will get more chances to do that without having to share the floor with the likes of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. But he will try to strike a balance of playmaking and showing Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla he can fill a certain role, which will be needed if he wants more playing time next season.
Being around the Celtics this season, even if it was at the end of the bench, definitely rubbed off on Walsh, who is looking to stick to Boston’s winning culture even if it’s just Summer League.
“I feel like for me, obviously, winning is always the No. 1 thing,” Walsh said. “We want to come here and win everything. We want to win it all. That’s always on the front of my mind.”
