PORTLAND, MAINE — After the Celtics fell to the Grizzlies on Saturday night time — their fifth sport in seven nights — the gamers all seemed ahead to a highly-anticipated break day.
However, Jordan Walsh, who noticed restricted on-court minutes with Boston throughout that stretch, simply needed to play extra basketball.
So, when he realized that the Maine Celtics’ Sunday sport on the Portland Expo coincided with a break day for the mum or dad membership, he needed to play. Thus far this season, after spending most of his rookie season in Portland, the second-year ahead hasn’t spent a day within the G League.
“I requested if I may come down and play on this sport throughout apply yesterday,” Walsh mentioned after the Maine Celtics’ 109-108 loss to the Greensboro Swarm on Sunday. “I requested a few of my PD [player development] coaches.”
The Celtics have been blissful to accommodate his request.
“Brad [Stevens] referred to as me, and mentioned, ‘you wish to go down?’” Walsh mentioned. “I used to be like, ‘can I play in a sport actual fast?’ and he was like, ‘yeah.’
Not solely did the Celtics teaching workers grant Walsh his want, however they even accompanied him; director of participant growth Craig Luschenat and participant enhancement coach Nana Foulland each made the journey as much as Portland on their off day, too.
Jordan Walsh excelled in his Maine Celtics season debut
Walsh spent most of final yr in Maine after getting drafted No. 38 general in 2023. However, he has spent all of his sophomore season with Boston to this point, capitalizing on some early-season accidents to Sam Hauser (again) and Jaylen Brown (hip). In sixteen video games performed, Walsh averaged 9.3 minutes and drew reward from his teammates.
“Each time his quantity’s been referred to as, he’s performed a tremendous job,” mentioned Jrue Vacation. “It’s not a lot concerning the scoring — it’s extra about how he’s impacted the sport.”
Walsh flourished in his return to Maine, ending with 20 factors (8-12 FG), 5 rebounds, an help, a block, and a steal. He additionally hit 3 of seven three-pointers and defended at a excessive stage.
Maybe most telling, he completed the night time with a plus/minus of +21, the very best of any participant on both crew.
“I assumed he was phenomenal at the moment — together with his confidence, with the screening, together with his protection,” mentioned Maine head coach Tyler Lashbrook. “I felt actually snug with him on the market, and I’ve seen him take steps over the summer time after which, by August and September, and that translated to some taking part in time with Boston. And also you noticed it at the moment — he was actually, actually, actually good.”
Jordan Walsh simply hit a giant three to chop the Maine Celtics deficit to three factors with 4 minutes to play
He’s as much as 16 factors on 6-10 capturing pic.twitter.com/dIcaW84SQe
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) December 8, 2024
Lashbrook, who was additionally a member of the participant growth workers final yr in Boston, liked that Walsh took the initiative to ask to play in Maine.
“That was thrilling to listen to — he needs to be part of this,” Lashbrook mentioned. “He needs to play. On the finish of the day, he’s a basketball participant. That’s what these guys do — they wish to play.”
For Walsh, it was a no brainer.
“It simply made sense,” Walsh mentioned. “We had a pair off days. These guys had a back-to-back. I do know perhaps a few of them wish to relaxation slightly bit. However, greater than something, I simply needed to come back play.”
Plus, he returned to a hero’s welcome. Walsh grew to become a fan favourite in Maine throughout his rookie season and was met with raucous applause when his title was first introduced.
“I felt like Marcus Sensible in Boston once I checked into the sport,” Walsh mentioned. “It was fairly cool. Then, they blew up on the primary bucket too, which was additionally fairly cool. It reveals that right here in Maine, they’ve a whole lot of love for me.”
Jordan Walsh received a loud ovation from the group in Maine when his title was introduced at the moment:
“I felt like Marcus Sensible in Boston. It was fairly cool.” pic.twitter.com/0fdFZfjvfm
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) December 8, 2024
Making the journey up north additionally meant that Walsh, who prefers the meals in Portland to the meals in Boston, may dine at a few of his favourite native eating places from his time in Maine. After his postgame media availability, he was keen to move out to Leeward, his favourite restaurant.
Then, he headed again to Boston, the place he’ll rejoin the Boston Celtics.
The Maine Celtics fell to the Swarm after a controversial late whistle
A come-from-behind sport ended up in disappointment for the Maine Celtics due to a late-game name. The G League adheres to the Elam Ending guidelines for extra time, which means that reasonably than play for an allotted period of time, groups play to 7 extra time factors.
With the rating tied at 108 (and the goal rating set at 109), rookie Anton Watson appeared to steal the ball on the ultimate play with a transparent lane to the basket. The referees referred to as a late foul, and subsequently, a technical foul was issued on an incredulous Tyler Lashbrook.
Lashbrook was tight-lipped concerning the name postgame, merely noting he would “disagree very kindly” with the referees’ choice to name a foul.
The Celtics’ different rookie, Baylor Scheierman, famous he didn’t have a great look in real-time, however that “wanting on the replay, clearly it seemed fairly clear.”
Whatever the sport’s end result, Walsh was glad he determined to make the journey.
“I’d have been simply sitting in my crib doing nothing,” Walsh mentioned with a smile. “It is a means higher various.”
