NEW YORK KNICKS HAS FINALLY OWENED THE RACE BY SIGNING.
Following His Return to His Origins, Sam Hauser Talks About Jordan Walsh’s Growth
Similar to Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh spent time in the G League honing his skills before entering the NBA.
Sam Hauser traveled to Portland, Maine, last Thursday, the day before the Boston Celtics defeated the New York Knicks 133-123 to improve to 16-5, including 10-0 at TD Garden.
Throughout 2021–2022, the cutting forward refined his skills in the G League. His progress there indicated to the parent club that he was prepared for a more in-depth examination.
Following practice on Monday, he remarked, “That’s where it all started,” of his trip to the Pine Tree State. “Help the folks who brought me here. There are many wonderful people up there, and it’s always a pleasure to return and cheer on those guys. You never know, we might recognize a few faces from that squad when they come back down here in a few (of) years. Thus, it’s always beneficial to reflect on and value your origins.”
Now a regular in Boston’s rotation, Hauser has developed into a genuine two-way player who affects play on both sides of the ball. He’s scoring 9.6 points a game on average, making 43.5 percent of his 6.2 three-pointers, and pulling down 3.6 rebounds. According to NBA.com, his defensive rating of 107 places him fourth among Celtics who play at least eight minutes a night.
On his way back to Maine, he also witnessed Jordan Walsh lead the team to victory over the Delaware Blue Coats 135-109, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists.
Regarding the rookie, who is 19 years old, Hauser said, “Jordan’s coming along well.” “He’s not old. Though he’s still learning, he’s been playing really well, and his potential is obvious. He is incredibly talented. I’m aware that he is putting in a lot of effort, and each time he returns, it appears that he has improved, so I applaud him.”
In the G League, Walsh is growing more of an aggressive offensive player, which will help him in the NBA as a facilitator.
The former Arkansas Razorback is also showing that he knows how important it is to prepare for the role he’ll play with the Celtics by focusing on becoming a two-way wing who can make three-pointers off the catch and play defense like a Swiss army knife.
However, he is a more versatile player who can also drive the tempo, grab rebounds in defense, and create opportunities in transition.
The NBA’s punitive collective bargaining agreement makes it more important than ever to have rotation players on team-friendly contracts. Walsh is moving in the direction of checking that box for the Celtics, just as Hauser did when he was in Maine.
