BOSTON — When Jordan Walsh met his new Celtics teammates for the first time during training camp, he was understandably a little overwhelmed. Just a few months earlier, as a teenager, he had been avidly watching the Celtics playoff games on TV.
But as Walsh's rookie season draws to a close, he's no longer the bright rookie. Now, every time he faces Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in practice, he's trying to push them. And that's part of the value the Celtics' lone rookie brings to an NBA Finals run, even if he doesn't play every night. As he so eloquently put it: “I'm here to beat you in practice. Whoever you are, I'm going to beat you. So that's kind of my mentality.”
“If I'm facing JT, I'm going to go after him at the throat,” Walsh added. “I'm going to try to lock him down. Obviously I'll go one-on-one with him and JB. It's always going to be about showing that I'm a competitor and I never give up. It doesn't matter who I'm up against. Whatever I'm doing, I'm going to go out there and try to beat them.”
The 20-year-old Walsh is in a unique position. He was selected 38th overall in last year's draft and is the only rookie on Boston's 15-man roster. Walsh spent most of the season with the Maine Celtics in the G League and received occasional call-ups to the big club. But his work was mostly behind the scenes during the regular season, honing his game and his mind during practices.
Coming off of the G League Finals, Walsh now has an up-close look at what it takes to win on the biggest stage in sports. He said the attention to detail is what impresses him most in the playoffs because the stakes are much higher. Between practices and team activities, the rookie is trying to soak up everything he can. Walsh said he's spoken frequently with Xavier Tillman, Al Horford and Jrue Holiday during these playoffs and is trying to listen to any advice the veterans can give him.
“It's unbelievable. Jordan Walsh is going to be so good,” Tillman said. “So we have this stay-ready group where we scrimmage against each other and play against guys who may or may not be in the rotation. He's a special player. He walked in the gym without stretching and dunked like the wind. It was amazing.”
Walsh had a successful rookie season and earned plenty of playing time in the G League. He's a one-year prospect out of Arkansas, and his measurables are the first to catch your eye. Walsh is 6'7″ tall with 7'3″ arms, which is why Boston president Brad Stevens pointed out his defensive potential on draft night.
The rookie still has a long way to go, but he says he has already made great strides since the start of his rookie season. In 27 G League games, Walsh averaged 14.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists. His 36.1% shooting from 5.7 three-pointers is also a good sign, and the Celtics are hopeful he can thrive at the next level in the NBA. A player like Walsh has great value, even if he isn't ready to contribute right now. With a tight salary cap in a few years, getting cheap production from a second-round pick like Walsh will be crucial for the Celtics to maintain a competitive roster.
“Personally, I've slowed down my game,” Walsh said. “I'm trying to play what you might call a veteran style. You don't have to be running full speed all the time, because then you're going to make mistakes. It's about slowing down. Evaluating the situation. Making the right reads 98 percent of the time.”
For now, all Walsh has to do is hone his game while enjoying a front-row seat to the best. And there's an added bonus in the finals: playing in front of his hometown Dallas crowd. When the Celtics played at the American Airlines Center in January, Walsh said 30 to 40 friends and family came to watch. But this time around, tickets are too expensive and Walsh says he won't be able to draw that many fans. And with his team playing against his friends and family, all he wants is bragging rights.
“My friends are rooting for me,” Walsh said. “I have some family members who have been Mavs fans my whole life. They're the first people I'm going to call if I get the trophy. I'm going to call them personally and say shit about them.”
