Just some weeks after signing a four-year, $45 million contract extension, Sam Hauser donned a white Maine Celtics T-shirt at a meet-and-greet on the North Shore Mall.
“It simply jogs my memory sort of the place it began right here in Boston,” Hauser mentioned, gesturing at his shirt with a smile. “Or — I suppose extra in Maine.”
It wasn’t too way back that Hauser was an undrafted free agent making an attempt to determine methods to make it within the NBA. He signed a two-way cope with the Maine Celtics in 2021, hoping that that might function the start of an NBA profession.
For sure, that turned out simply effective.
Three years later, Hauser hit 11 three-pointers in 5 NBA Finals video games en path to the Celtics’ 18th championship, rising out of a quick postseason droop to shoot a scorching-hot 47.8% from three in opposition to the Mavericks.
Simply two months faraway from that storybook end — on a quiet Wednesday night on the Dynasty Sports activities in Peabody — Hauser acquired one other alternative to soak all of it in.
Followers lined as much as get their memorabilia signed by the championship workforce’s high sharpshooter, bringing with them a slew of things, together with a miniature Larry O’Brien trophy and a 2024 championship banner.
“How a couple of nineteenth banner, Sam?” mentioned one man in head-to-toe Celtics gear.
“Thanks for the championship,” mentioned one other, eagerly shaking Hauser’s hand.
That sort of reverence and appreciation from Boston followers hasn’t gotten outdated.
“Truthfully, I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it,” Hauser mentioned. “It’s sort of loopy, to be trustworthy, fairly surreal. Simply making an attempt to be grateful, simply benefit from it — clearly, you don’t know when alternatives like this are ever going to return round once more.”
It’s actually been an thrilling couple of months for Sam Hauser. He loved a storybook ending to his breakout 2024 season, and signed a contract extension with the Celtics just some weeks after the parade.
The long-term deal to maintain him in Boston was removed from a positive factor within the eyes of the general public — Hauser may have turn out to be a free agent subsequent summer season, and with the Celtics payroll quickly growing, it wasn’t clear that he would
Final month in Las Vegas, Celtics assistant coach D.J. MacLeay acquired emotional when requested about Hauser’s extension, saying it crammed him with “immense pleasure.”
Sam Hauser mentioned he it was cool to have the ability to signal with Boston long-term and that he appears ahead to competing for an additional championship subsequent yr:
“Fairly particular that they gave me a possibility when nobody else did, and I simply tried to run with it. They believed in me.” https://t.co/eVVvC5WOSt pic.twitter.com/EEq628ukvX
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) August 14, 2024
Hauser smiled when requested about that second, noting that he noticed the video on Twitter.
“It’s actually cool,” he mentioned. “I simply performed for the love of the sport, and that is typically simply the good thing about that. Fairly particular that they gave me a possibility early on when no person else did, and I simply tried to run with it. They believed in me, and I’m simply glad I may very well be right here and be with this workforce and have one other likelihood to win all of it.”
Hauser’s removed from the one Celtic who acquired their massive payday this summer season. Jayson Tatum signed his 5-year, $314 million supermax extension, whereas Derrick White signed a four-year, $126 million contract extension. Neemias Queta, Luke Kornet, and Xavier Tillman all signed minimal offers to return to Boston, and two-way gamers JD Davison and Drew Peterson signed to new two-ways as nicely. The one member from final yr’s group that signed with one other workforce is Svi Mykhailiuk, who just lately signed a 4-year, $15 million contract with the Jazz.
“It’s fairly loopy that we had been capable of convey everybody again,” Hauser mentioned. “All people needed to be again and needed to attempt to do that once more. I’m glad the entrance workplace was capable of make it work.”
Now, the workforce’s consideration turns to subsequent season. Hauser mentioned that about 75% of followers on the meet-and-greet requested him concerning the pursuit of a championship in 2025.
“I believe all people’s fairly pleased with how all people is staying in Boston,” Hauser mentioned. “We will compete once more collectively for an additional yr. Clearly, now we have lots to construct off of. It’ll be enjoyable.”
