It’s no secret that Jordan Walsh’s Summer time League stint didn’t go as he anticipated. The 20-year-old missed 22 consecutive three-pointers, performed sped up, and struggled to search out his footing.
“I don’t ever need to hear about that sport ever once more,” Walsh stated with a dissatisfied smile after a tough first sport in Las Vegas. Although his last sport of Summer time League was his finest, Walsh was candid about how issues went as a complete.
“I really feel like I performed fairly unhealthy… I undoubtedly anticipated extra from myself, for positive,” Walsh informed CelticsWeblog in July after capturing 29.1% from the sphere throughout 5 video games within the desert.
However, he bounced again with a strong preseason displaying during which he averaged 9 factors on 45.5% FG. And, although the stats undeniably seemed higher, it was the opposite extra intangible issues — his tempo, defensive power, and instincts — that stood out most.
At apply Friday, Walsh mirrored on his poor Summer time League efficiency.
“I used to be listening to suggestions from household, the workforce, everyone,” Walsh stated. “It was form of like, ‘okay, yeah. I perceive how I performed was unacceptable to me.’ So, transitioning from that to a progress mindset — making an attempt to turn out to be a extra full participant, a extra underneath management participant.”
Jordan Walsh says he was listening to suggestions from household and the workforce about his Summer time League:
“How I performed was unacceptable to me.”
Says he wished to turn out to be a extra full and underneath management participant. pic.twitter.com/ncrzd0opEr
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) October 18, 2024
He additionally credited Jrue Vacation for serving to him internalize the significance of slowing down.
“He’s informed me, ‘each time you’re going 100 MPH you’re going to make a mistake. However if you’re going 80-85, you may make that proper learn, make the fitting choice and see the courtroom clearly, 99% of the time.’” Walsh stated.
Final week, Joe Mazzulla stated he was impressed by Walsh’s enhancements throughout the board.
“[He’s] defending at a excessive degree, defending a number of positions, rebounding, after which making reads on the offensive finish,” Mazzulla stated. “Simply actually happy with his progress.”
Joe Mazzulla actually likes what he’s seen out of Jordan Walsh in preseason:
“He’s doing a fantastic job — simply actually happy with his progress.”
“He’s beginning to carve out a job and simply displaying a extremely good angle in direction of it. So, it has been enjoyable to observe him develop.” pic.twitter.com/JCJxM8XaAS
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) October 14, 2024
And, his extra veteran teammates have additionally taken discover of how issues have gone.
“He’s gotten higher, simply throughout,” Sam Hauser stated. “That comes with form of getting extra sport reps, having extra confidence, and simply getting used to enjoying with completely different guys. He showcased lots within the preseason and we’re excited to see what he can do within the common season.”
So, whereas just some months in the past, it appeared that Walsh was destined to spend a lot of the yr in Maine, Mazzulla used him as a rotational participant all through the preseason, albeit with completely different starters sitting out most nights.
“He works onerous at it,” Mazzulla stated. “He’s beginning to carve out a job and simply displaying a extremely good angle in direction of it. So, it’s been enjoyable to observe him develop.”
Nonetheless, whether or not the second-year ahead might be within the combine for normal season NBA minutes to start the season stays to be seen.
“I nonetheless don’t know,” Walsh stated. “I in all probability gained’t know till the primary sport, however I’m hoping for the very best, and I can work till I get there.”
Turning into a constant three-point shooter is a serious level of emphasis, as was prioritizing the defensive finish and specializing in the small print. If he can flip into the kind of defender scouts initially projected him to be, he may simply discover himself as a 3&D participant on the Celtics.
“I really feel like I’m rising into being extra of an NBA participant,” Walsh stated. “I’m making an attempt to show that to everybody else, but additionally to show it to myself.”
The suggestions from the teaching employees has been constructive.
“For essentially the most half, they have been simply saying I performed my function very well,” Walsh stated. “They suppose I’ve matured much more than I used to be final yr at this level. Even from Summer time League to now, I performed manner higher.”
Nonetheless, an improved preseason displaying doesn’t imply that Jordan Walsh is glad. He is aware of he’s simply originally of what he hopes might be an extended NBA profession.
“I really feel like I’ve gotta work on all the pieces, truthfully,” Walsh stated. “I really feel like there may be nonetheless quite a lot of incomplete issues in my sport… there may be nonetheless quite a lot of work to be executed.”
