Celtics rookie Baylor Scheierman lives on the crossroads of competitors and pleasure

Two Washington State free throws knotted the sport at 74-74. A 21-year-old Baylor Scheierman inbounded the ball for South Dakota State. Zeke Mayo clutched it, his eyes eagerly in search of out Scheierman. As two Cougars defenders cornered him, he made the cross.

With 20 seconds left on the sport clock, Scheierman dribbled the ball previous half-court. Spokane Enviornment, full of Cougars followers and members of the family, rose to their toes. Washington State received of their defensive stance. All eyes have been on Scheierman. Anticipation slowly grew as they awaited the subsequent actions.

However the Jackrabbits knew what was about to occur.

Because the 10-second mark got here and went, large man Luke Appel went to set a display screen for Scheierman on the prime of the important thing, however he ignored it. He drove in, stopped by a stunting Washington State defender. Noah Freidel ran throughout the free-throw line, operating his defender into the trail of Scheierman’s.

The star Jackrabbit introduced the ball as much as the left wing, faked in, pulled again, and despatched Andrej Jakimovski crashing to the bottom in a break up. Scheierman launched the ball with 1.4 seconds left, and the buzzer sounded by the point it hit nylon.

An audible groan flooded the group as Scheierman and his teammate celebrated on their opponent’s residence ground. The plan was all the time for him to take the shot. His coaches knew it. His teammates knew it. He knew it. And he relished it.

That’s the participant the Boston Celtics are getting.

“Being an individual who prepares himself for that second after which delivers when his quantity’s known as, it’s one thing that’s exhausting to seek out,” Creighton head coach Greg McDermott, who recruited Scheierman from South Dakota State, informed CelticsWeblog.

Lower than a 12 months after that game-winner, Scheierman traded in his Jackrabbit threads for a Bluejays jersey. His hoop goals prolonged far past faculty ball, and if he needed to see them come to fruition, he knew he wanted to problem himself.

Scheierman had finished every little thing he might for South Dakota State. In his third and ultimate 12 months, he helped them win the Summit League and earn a bid within the NCAA Event. They fell quick within the Spherical of 64, however he left his coronary heart on the ground of Frost Enviornment each night time.

“Each time I received to the gymnasium, Baylor was already there,” South Dakota State head coach Eric Henderson informed CelticsBlog. “The final individual to depart the gymnasium, Baylor was nonetheless there. And so, simply that keenness that he had, and him placing us on his again after we had our historic season the final 12 months he had with us.”

It was this work ethic, this confidence that led McDermott to deliver him on board following the 2021-22 season.

“If you meet the man, you simply type of fall in love together with his confidence and his dedication to desirous to get higher,” mentioned McDermott.

Scheierman’s basketball journey led him again residence to Creighton. He performed highschool ball simply two hours away in Aurora, Nebraska, a metropolis with a inhabitants of 4,717. Now, Scheierman is the one energetic NBA participant from the state.

From a tiny metropolis spawned an aura of credence, and Scheierman’s origin performs an enormous half in the way in which he carries himself on the courtroom.

“Very form, however very assured,” McDermott mentioned of Scheierman. “You don’t get to the place he’s at, coming from a small city, should you don’t have some confidence.

“So, Baylor received’t again all the way down to anyone. He’s not afraid of anybody. He actually seems like he belongs. And he’s backed that up with a whole lot of exhausting work.”

Whether or not it’s big-time threes, nifty dimes, or main his highschool soccer crew with a state-record 59 touchdowns, Scheierman has all the time performed together with his coronary heart on his sleeve.

It’s a lifestyle that bleeds into apply and video games alike.

“You know the way it’s generally the place gamers, whether or not you name them players or they’re possibly a little bit bit, or not fairly as aggressive in apply? You’re by no means apprehensive about that with Baylor,” mentioned Henderson. “He needed to win each drill. Each recreation drill that we had in apply, Baylor needed to win.”

Scheierman’s fireyness is met at a crossroads, nonetheless. A constructive one.

Picture by Rob Carr/Getty Photographs

For anybody who places the time into changing into an NBA participant, basketball turns into greater than a recreation. It’s life.

With that grind, pleasure may be sucked out of the sport. The once-childhood playground recreation that children world wide develop up enjoying turns into a job. Scheierman hasn’t fallen into that lure.

He battles more durable than anybody…

“He’ll struggle and claw and scrap and dive on the ground for free balls,” mentioned McDermott. “I imply, that’s what this man’s about. That’s his DNA.”

…but concurrently performs with an unmatched bliss. And it’s been that means his entire life.

“Primary, it was simply the enjoyment that he had enjoying the sport,” Henderson mentioned, explaining what led him to recruit Scheierman out of highschool. “Like, he had a flare that he wasn’t afraid to make a mistake, and he simply had enjoyable enjoying the sport.”

And in contrast to some hoopers, Scheierman’s love for the sport doesn’t shine by most whereas nailing a deep three or throwing down a poster jam. As an alternative, it’s when he’s making these round him higher.

“The primary trait that I fell in love with about Baylor’s recreation is his passing,” mentioned Henderson. “And so, when your highest quality is passing, it simply makes everyone round you are feeling so good.”

For Scheierman, simply being on a basketball courtroom is elation, however an ideal cross is true basketball euphoria. It’s been that means since highschool, and it was one of many first traits that stood out throughout Coach Henderson’s recruiting course of.

“It in all probability got here out principally in his passing. Whether or not it was a full-length soccer throw for a layup, and the way he beloved to have fun that, a behind-the-back cross, or only a easy cross even, that flare, and that enjoyment for the sport was the very first thing that stood out.”

Scheierman’s mixture of jubilation and conviction helped him to 2 profitable seasons with the Bluejays. The primary 12 months was spent getting used to the upper degree of competitors within the Massive East, however within the second, he received again to dominance.

In his ultimate collegiate season, Scheierman averaged 18.5 factors, 9.0 rebounds, and three.9 assists whereas capturing 44.8% from the sphere and 38.1% from distance. He led Creighton on a run to the Candy 16, the place they ultimately misplaced to Tennessee. Scheierman’s efforts landed him a spot on the All-Massive East crew.

From Aurora to Brookings to Omaha, Scheierman discovered a solution to impression profitable, and it led him to the NBA. However not immediately.

Picture by Invoice Wippert/NCAA Images by way of Getty Photographs

Earlier than his transfer to Creighton, Scheierman examined the NBA waters two years in the past. He accomplished some pre-draft exercises, together with one with the Celtics.

“The primary time coming by, clearly, was a few years in the past. They actually appreciated my recreation,” Scheierman mentioned of his 2022 exercise with Boston. “Simply my skill to type of impression the sport in numerous methods, whether or not that be capturing, passing, dribbling, or simply my IQ.

“They usually felt like I might get a little bit stronger, a little bit faster, a little bit extra explosive a few years in the past. And that’s type of what I attempted to enhance on these final two years at Creighton, and I really feel like I did that.”

Two years and two deep event runs with the Bluejays later, Scheierman received again within the gymnasium with the Celtics. And this time, it panned out.

“For a small city child to have a dream like this after which see it come to fruition is actually particular to be a part of,” mentioned McDermott, who attended Scheierman’s Draft Evening gathering.

Boston chosen Scheierman with the No. 30 choose within the 2024 NBA Draft, investing in his continued development as a participant.

“As I informed Brad Stevens final night time, he received one,” mentioned McDermott. “And Baylor impacts the sport and loves the sport in a whole lot of methods.”

With the NBA’s new two-day draft format, Scheierman was left on the sting of his seat as choose after choose flew by. Terrence Shannon Jr. to the Minnesota Timberwolves at 27. Ryan Dunn to the Phoenix Suns at 28. Isaiah Collier to the Utah Jazz at 29. Earlier than he knew it, there was just one choose left, and his identify had but to be known as.

“We have been speaking a little bit bit about what the plan was going to be for right now if it didn’t work out,” McDermott mentioned with a chuckle. “However I’m simply actually blissful for Baylor, and likewise blissful for the Celtics.”

Groups forward of the Celtics appreciated Scheierman. They informed him as a lot. However they went in different instructions, clearing a pathway for Stevens to make his first first-round choice since taking on as President of Basketball Operations.

“I used to be undoubtedly assured coming into Draft Evening that I used to be gonna get picked that first night time,” Scheierman mentioned. “I assumed I had a fantastic pre-draft course of. And there have been a couple of groups that have been keen on me earlier than the Celtics, and I assumed there was probability.

“However my agent did job of simply telling me [that] there’s a whole lot of issues that may occur on Draft Evening. And on the finish of the day, every little thing occurs for a cause. I’m precisely the place I’m speculated to be. So, I’m tremendous excited to be right here.”

Now, Scheierman is able to throw himself headfirst into Celtics tradition.

Picture by Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe by way of Getty Photographs

All 12 months, and particularly since profitable Banner 18, the crew has been screaming out “Totally different Right here” to whoever will hear. When the rookies stepped into the constructing, it was one of many first messages they despatched to them, based on fellow first-year Anton Watson.

Scheierman understands how actually totally different it’s in Boston, and he’s desperate to be part of it.

“Simply tremendous excited to be part of this group,” Scheierman mentioned. “Clearly, one of the best group in basketball. And a fantastic fan base. The most effective within the NBA. And so, simply tremendous excited to be part of that and simply get to work.”

And thru his first few Summer season League practices, he’s bringing the identical hearth that he’s carried with him his entire life.

“The factor that involves thoughts with Baylor is he’s only a competitor, and I feel that’s nice,” mentioned Celtics assistant and Summer season League head coach DJ MacLeay. “I feel seeing him compete on a day-to-day foundation and having an open-mindedness to what we do right here is one thing that he’s finished a fantastic job of within the first two days.”

However maybe extra importantly, he doesn’t need to step on what the crew already has.

On the commerce deadline, Stevens expressed the significance of not subtracting by addition. “If you add gamers to your crew, they will add to your crew or take away out of your crew,” Stevens mentioned. “You’ve simply received to watch out.”

As evidenced by their seamless, drama-less run to an NBA Championship, the Celtics embodied every little thing an ideal sports activities locker room ought to be. Not solely does Scheierman see and admire that, nevertheless it’s one in every of issues he’s most enthusiastic about.

“I simply actually appreciated the crew chemistry that they’ve,” Scheierman mentioned. “Everyone performs a task, and they’re actually good at, it’s a crew recreation, and so they perceive that, and so they’re all the time deflecting credit score to 1 one other, and that’s the way it ought to be. The sport of basketball is clearly a crew recreation, and clearly, they’ve super gamers as nicely, which is why they have been capable of win the NBA championship.

“However the crew chemistry is one thing that basically caught out to me, and I feel that’s one thing that I can are available in and likewise simply add to that as nicely. Type of simply being a connector and simply having the ability to impression the sport in any means I can to assist them win.”

And based mostly on the way in which he’s interacted together with his previous groups, he ought to discover no points with the Celtics.

“Baylor’s like this connector,” Henderson mentioned. “He would hang around with so many various guys on the crew. He had a persona that would relate to many individuals.”

Scheierman possesses the precise kind of persona that Boston ought to need of their locker room.

“He simply had that distinctive confidence about him that he was snug round anyone, and it was enjoyable to see him work together with all totally different teammates,” mentioned Henderson.

After years of falling quick, the Celtics lastly received the job finished this 12 months. Trophies have been introduced on the TD Backyard ground, confetti littered the town’s streets, and at first of subsequent season, a brand new banner can be raised into the rafters.

That crew can be endlessly cemented in franchise lore, however they don’t need the run to finish there. And neither does the fanbase.

Picture by Dylan Buell/Getty Photographs

The love that Bostonians confirmed the Celtics en path to Banner 18 was as ferocious because it was solely due to the alternative impact. For nonetheless a lot the town loves their crew, they equally refuse to just accept something lower than one of the best.

Each recreation, quarter, and play is hit with a magnifying glass, and people expectations are solely intensified in terms of the gamers. However Scheierman is able to impress.

“I prefer to impression profitable, whether or not that’s diving on the ground, making threes, or blocking photographs, no matter that may be,” Scheierman mentioned. “And I prefer to have enjoyable whereas doing it. I feel basketball, clearly, is a recreation that’s meant to be loved, and so, after I’m on the market on the courtroom, I similar to to have a whole lot of enjoyable and prefer to compete.”

Scheierman will nail a 30-foot three-point shot with the boldness of a thousand professionals, and on the subsequent play, he’ll sprawl out on the ground, chasing a free ball that appeared ungettable.

And all of the whereas, he’ll be smiling.

“I feel he simply embraced each time that he might get on the ground,” Henderson mentioned. “And he had enjoyable, he smiled, he made positive others round him have been having enjoyable. And so, that’s what involves my thoughts while you ask that.”

Summer season League can be Scheierman’s first probability to point out off his expertise to Celtics devoted, and he’s prepared for it. He could not earn many common season minutes. He could find yourself spending a lot of the 12 months in Maine. However that doesn’t matter.

Scheierman’s basketball persona survives on the intersection of confidence, depth, selflessness, and pleasure. And that’s what Celtics basketball is all about.

“They’re gonna love him, and he’s gonna adore it there,” mentioned McDermott.