Sam Hauser went undrafted three years in the past, developed into an efficient reserve unit piece, and inked a $45 million extension with the Boston Celtics this offseason.
The 26-year-old grew to become the newest from Boston’s championship roster to land a brand new contract, agreeing to a four-year deal that’ll preserve Hauser with the Celtics via the 2028-29 season. But, the journey from getting rejected on draft night time popping out of the College of Virginia in 2021 to rising into one of the efficient 3-point capturing threats within the NBA is an encouraging story to look at unfold, based on teammate Jordan Walsh.
“Now his identify’s gonna be in all places within the banners in Maine and everyone’s going to see it,” Walsh advised reporters Monday at Summer time League, per CLNS Media. “He was a man who climbed that ladder. It took some time, it was laborious, however he did it. He’s profitable at it, he’s an important participant and he’s worthwhile to the Celtics, clearly. So I believe that reveals that anyone with sufficient time and laborious work can accomplish the identical factor.”
Walsh, albeit chosen thirty eighth total within the second spherical of the 2023 NBA Draft, too, has undergone an identical (affected person) climb, popping out of Arkansas. Boston selected Walsh due to the 6-foot-6 ahead’s defensive tenacity with the Razorbacks, though the group saved the 20-year-old with its G League affiliate in Maine for improvement functions. There, Walsh performed 27 video games whereas averaging 14.7 factors, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists.
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Boston constructed a powerhouse roster final offseason, which led the NBA in wins (64) in the course of the common season earlier than bulldozing its solution to a 16-3 file within the postseason. This left little to no room for Walsh to step in, acquire sufficient rookie expertise with the Celtics, and showcase sufficient to cement a task like Hauser. Nonetheless, with the staff’s present payroll getting dicey — Hauser’s contract rose the 2025-26 projected payroll. to $225 million with a further $210 million luxurious tax penalty — Walsh might quickly be known as upon.
“I nonetheless really feel like a rookie virtually,” Walsh added, per CLNS Media. “I’m nonetheless studying. I really feel like on this Summer time League setting I might tackle extra of a management function as a result of I’ve seen it, I do know what it appears to be like like. However in the course of the season, I’m taking a backseat studying as a lot as I can from (Boston’s present rookies). I’m making an attempt to provide out as a lot data as I can but additionally take as a lot as I can.”
