Celtics rookie Baylor Scheierman lives at the crossroads of competition and joy

Two Washington State free throws knotted the sport at 74-74. A 21-year-old Baylor Scheierman inbounded the ball for South Dakota State. Zeke Mayo clutched it, his eyes eagerly looking for out Scheierman. As two Cougars defenders cornered him, he made the move.

With 20 seconds left on the sport clock, Scheierman dribbled the ball previous half-court. Spokane Enviornment, filled with Cougars followers and relations, rose to their ft. Washington State obtained of their defensive stance. All eyes had been on Scheierman. Anticipation slowly grew as they awaited the subsequent actions.

However the Jackrabbits knew what was about to occur.

Because the 10-second mark got here and went, large man Luke Appel went to set a display screen for Scheierman on the high of the important thing, however he ignored it. He drove in, stopped by a stunting Washington State defender. Noah Freidel ran throughout the free-throw line, working his defender into the trail of Scheierman’s.

The star Jackrabbit introduced the ball as much as the left wing, faked in, pulled again, and despatched Andrej Jakimovski crashing to the bottom in a cut up. Scheierman launched the ball with 1.4 seconds left, and the buzzer sounded by the point it hit nylon.

An audible groan flooded the group as Scheierman and his teammate celebrated on their opponent’s house ground. The plan was at all times for him to take the shot. His coaches knew it. His teammates knew it. He knew it. And he relished it.

That’s the participant the Boston Celtics are getting.

“Being an individual who prepares himself for that second after which delivers when his quantity’s referred to as, it’s one thing that’s laborious to seek out,” Creighton head coach Greg McDermott, who recruited Scheierman from South Dakota State, informed CelticsBlog.

Lower than a 12 months after that game-winner, Scheierman traded in his Jackrabbit threads for a Bluejays jersey. His hoop goals prolonged far past faculty ball, and if he needed to see them come to fruition, he knew he wanted to problem himself.

Scheierman had performed every little thing he might for South Dakota State. In his third and remaining 12 months, he helped them win the Summit League and earn a bid within the NCAA Event. They fell brief within the Spherical of 64, however he left his coronary heart on the ground of Frost Enviornment each evening.

“Each time I obtained to the health club, Baylor was already there,” South Dakota State head coach Eric Henderson informed CelticsBlog. “The final particular person to depart the health club, Baylor was nonetheless there. And so, simply that zeal that he had, and him placing us on his again after we had our historic season the final 12 months he had with us.”

It was this work ethic, this confidence that led McDermott to deliver him on board following the 2021-22 season.

“If you meet the man, you simply type of fall in love along with his confidence and his dedication to desirous to get higher,” mentioned McDermott.

Scheierman’s basketball journey led him again house to Creighton. He performed highschool ball simply two hours away in Aurora, Nebraska, a metropolis with a inhabitants of 4,717. Now, Scheierman is the one energetic NBA participant from the state.

From a tiny metropolis spawned an aura of credence, and Scheierman’s origin performs an enormous half in the way in which he carries himself on the court docket.

“Very sort, however very assured,” McDermott mentioned of Scheierman. “You don’t get to the place he’s at, coming from a small city, in case you don’t have some confidence.

“So, Baylor received’t again right down to anyone. He’s not afraid of anybody. He actually seems like he belongs. And he’s backed that up with quite a lot of laborious work.”

Whether or not it’s big-time threes, nifty dimes, or main his highschool soccer group with a state-record 59 touchdowns, Scheierman has at all times performed along with his coronary heart on his sleeve.

It’s a lifestyle that bleeds into observe and video games alike.

“You understand how it’s generally the place gamers, whether or not you name them avid gamers or they’re possibly just a little bit, or not fairly as aggressive in observe? You’re by no means apprehensive about that with Baylor,” mentioned Henderson. “He needed to win each drill. Each sport drill that we had in observe, Baylor needed to win.”

Scheierman’s fireyness is met at a crossroads, nonetheless. A optimistic one.

For anybody who places the time into turning into an NBA participant, basketball turns into greater than a sport. It’s life.

With that grind, pleasure will be sucked out of the sport. The once-childhood playground sport that youngsters world wide develop up enjoying turns into a job. Scheierman hasn’t fallen into that lure.

He battles more durable than anybody…

“He’ll combat and claw and scrap and dive on the ground for free balls,” mentioned McDermott. “I imply, that’s what this man’s about. That’s his DNA.”

…but concurrently performs with an unmatched bliss. And it’s been that method his complete life.

“Primary, it was simply the enjoyment that he had enjoying the sport,” Henderson mentioned, explaining what led him to recruit Scheierman out of highschool. “Like, he had a flare that he wasn’t afraid to make a mistake, and he simply had enjoyable enjoying the sport.”

And in contrast to some hoopers, Scheierman’s love for the sport doesn’t shine via most whereas nailing a deep three or throwing down a poster jam. As a substitute, it’s when he’s making these round him higher.

“The primary trait that I fell in love with about Baylor’s sport is his passing,” mentioned Henderson. “And so, when your highest quality is passing, it simply makes all people round you’re feeling so good.”

For Scheierman, simply being on a basketball court docket is elation, however an ideal move is true basketball euphoria. It’s been that method since highschool, and it was one of many first traits that stood out throughout Coach Henderson’s recruiting course of.

“It in all probability got here out principally in his passing. Whether or not it was a full-length soccer throw for a layup, and the way he beloved to have a good time that, a behind-the-back move, or only a easy move even, that flare, and that enjoyment for the sport was the very first thing that stood out.”

Scheierman’s mixture of jubilation and conviction helped him to 2 profitable seasons with the Bluejays. The primary 12 months was spent getting used to the upper stage of competitors within the Huge East, however within the second, he obtained again to dominance.

In his remaining collegiate season, Scheierman averaged 18.5 factors, 9.0 rebounds, and three.9 assists whereas capturing 44.8% from the sector and 38.1% from distance. He led Creighton on a run to the Candy 16, the place they finally misplaced to Tennessee. Scheierman’s efforts landed him a spot on the All-Huge East group.

From Aurora to Brookings to Omaha, Scheierman discovered a method to influence profitable, and it led him to the NBA. However not instantly.

Earlier than his transfer to Creighton, Scheierman examined the NBA waters two years in the past. He accomplished some pre-draft exercises, together with one with the Celtics.

“The primary time coming via, clearly, was a few years in the past. They actually preferred my sport,” Scheierman mentioned of his 2022 exercise with Boston. “Simply my capacity to type of influence the sport in numerous methods, whether or not that be capturing, passing, dribbling, or simply my IQ.

“And so they felt like I might get just a little stronger, just a little faster, just a little extra explosive a few years in the past. And that’s type of what I attempted to enhance on these final two years at Creighton, and I really feel like I did that.”

Two years and two deep event runs with the Bluejays later, Scheierman obtained again within the health club with the Celtics. And this time, it panned out.

“For a small city child to have a dream like this after which see it come to fruition is actually particular to be a part of,” mentioned McDermott, who attended Scheierman’s Draft Evening gathering.

Boston chosen Scheierman with the No. 30 decide within the 2024 NBA Draft, investing in his continued development as a participant.

“As I informed Brad Stevens final evening, he obtained a great one,” mentioned McDermott. “And Baylor impacts the sport and loves the sport in quite a lot of methods.”

With the NBA’s new two-day draft format, Scheierman was left on the sting of his seat as decide after decide flew by. Terrence Shannon Jr. to the Minnesota Timberwolves at 27. Ryan Dunn to the Phoenix Suns at 28. Isaiah Collier to the Utah Jazz at 29. Earlier than he knew it, there was just one decide left, and his identify had but to be referred to as.

“We had been speaking just a little bit about what the plan was going to be for right this moment if it didn’t work out,” McDermott mentioned with a chuckle. “However I’m simply actually completely happy for Baylor, and in addition completely happy for the Celtics.”

Groups forward of the Celtics preferred Scheierman. They informed him as a lot. However they went in different instructions, clearing a pathway for Stevens to make his first first-round choice since taking up as President of Basketball Operations.

“I used to be positively assured coming into Draft Evening that I used to be gonna get picked that first evening,” Scheierman mentioned. “I believed I had an excellent pre-draft course of. And there have been a couple of groups that had been involved in me earlier than the Celtics, and I believed there was a great likelihood.

“However my agent did a great job of simply telling me [that] there’s quite a lot of issues that may occur on Draft Evening. And on the finish of the day, every little thing occurs for a purpose. I’m precisely the place I’m presupposed to be. So, I’m tremendous excited to be right here.”

Now, Scheierman is able to throw himself headfirst into Celtics tradition.

All 12 months, and particularly since profitable Banner 18, the group has been screaming out “Completely different Right here” to whoever will pay attention. When the rookies stepped into the constructing, it was one of many first messages they despatched to them, in keeping with fellow first-year Anton Watson.

Scheierman understands how actually completely different it’s in Boston, and he’s desperate to be part of it.

“Simply tremendous excited to be part of this group,” Scheierman mentioned. “Clearly, the most effective group in basketball. And an excellent fan base. The most effective within the NBA. And so, simply tremendous excited to be part of that and simply get to work.”

And thru his first few Summer time League practices, he’s bringing the identical fireplace that he’s carried with him his complete life.

“The factor that involves thoughts with Baylor is he’s only a competitor, and I believe that’s nice,” mentioned Celtics assistant and Summer time League head coach DJ MacLeay. “I believe seeing him compete on a day-to-day foundation and having an open-mindedness to what we do right here is one thing that he’s performed an excellent job of within the first two days.”

However maybe extra importantly, he doesn’t wish to step on what the group already has.

On the commerce deadline, Stevens expressed the significance of not subtracting by addition. “If you add gamers to your group, they will add to your group or take away out of your group,” Stevens mentioned. “You’ve simply obtained to watch out.”

As evidenced by their seamless, drama-less run to an NBA Championship, the Celtics embodied every little thing an ideal sports activities locker room ought to be. Not solely does Scheierman see and respect that, but it surely’s one among issues he’s most enthusiastic about.

“I simply actually preferred the group chemistry that they’ve,” Scheierman mentioned. “All people performs a job, and they’re actually good at, it’s a group sport, they usually perceive that, they usually’re at all times deflecting credit score to 1 one other, and that’s the way it ought to be. The sport of basketball is clearly a group sport, and clearly, they’ve super gamers as effectively, which is why they had been in a position to win the NBA championship.

“However the group chemistry is one thing that actually caught out to me, and I believe that’s one thing that I can are available and in addition simply add to that as effectively. Form of simply being a connector and simply with the ability to influence the sport in any method I can to assist them win.”

And primarily based on the way in which he’s interacted along with his previous groups, he ought to discover no points with the Celtics.

“Baylor’s like this connector,” Henderson mentioned. “He would hang around with so many alternative guys on the group. He had a persona that would relate to many individuals.”

Scheierman possesses the precise sort of persona that Boston ought to need of their locker room.

“He simply had that distinctive confidence about him that he was snug round anyone, and it was enjoyable to see him work together with all completely different teammates,” mentioned Henderson.

After years of falling brief, the Celtics lastly obtained the job performed this 12 months. Trophies had been introduced on the TD Backyard ground, confetti littered the town’s streets, and in the beginning of subsequent season, a brand new banner will likely be raised into the rafters.

That group will likely be endlessly cemented in franchise lore, however they don’t need the run to finish there. And neither does the fanbase.

The love that Bostonians confirmed the Celtics en path to Banner 18 was as ferocious because it was solely due to the other impact. For nonetheless a lot the town loves their group, they equally refuse to simply accept something lower than the most effective.

Each sport, quarter, and play is hit with a magnifying glass, and people expectations are solely intensified in the case of the gamers. However Scheierman is able to impress.

“I wish to influence profitable, whether or not that’s diving on the ground, making threes, or blocking photographs, no matter that is perhaps,” Scheierman mentioned. “And I wish to have enjoyable whereas doing it. I believe basketball, clearly, is a sport that’s meant to be loved, and so, once I’m on the market on the court docket, I similar to to have quite a lot of enjoyable and wish to compete.”

Scheierman will nail a 30-foot three-point shot with the boldness of a thousand professionals, and on the subsequent play, he’ll sprawl out on the ground, chasing a free ball that appeared ungettable.

And all of the whereas, he’ll be smiling.

“I believe he simply embraced each time that he might get on the ground,” Henderson mentioned. “And he had enjoyable, he smiled, he made certain others round him had been having enjoyable. And so, that’s what involves my thoughts while you ask that.”

Summer time League will likely be Scheierman’s first likelihood to point out off his expertise to Celtics trustworthy, and he’s prepared for it. He might not earn many common season minutes. He might find yourself spending a lot of the 12 months in Maine. However that doesn’t matter.

Scheierman’s basketball persona survives on the intersection of confidence, depth, selflessness, and pleasure. And that’s what Celtics basketball is all about.

“They’re gonna love him, and he’s gonna like it there,” mentioned McDermott.