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 form 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 how one can make it within the NBA. He signed a two-way take care of the Maine Celtics in 2021, hoping that that may 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 short postseason hunch 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 obtained one other alternative to soak all of it in.
Followers lined as much as get their memorabilia signed by the championship crew’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That kind of reverence and appreciation from Boston followers hasn’t gotten outdated.
“Actually, I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it,” Hauser mentioned. “It’s form of loopy, to be trustworthy, fairly surreal. Simply making an attempt to be grateful, simply take advantage of it — clearly, you don’t know when alternatives like this are ever going to come back 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 change into a free agent subsequent summer time, and with the Celtics payroll quickly rising, it wasn’t clear that he would
Final month in Las Vegas, Celtics assistant coach D.J. MacLeay obtained emotional when requested about Hauser’s extension, saying it stuffed him with “immense pleasure.”
Sam Hauser mentioned he it was cool to have the ability to signal with Boston long-term and that he seems to be ahead to competing for an additional championship subsequent yr:
“Fairly particular that they gave me a chance 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 advantage of that. Fairly particular that they gave me a chance early on when no one else did, and I simply tried to run with it. They believed in me, and I’m simply glad I might be right here and be with this crew and have one other probability to win all of it.”
Hauser’s removed from the one Celtic who obtained their huge payday this summer time. 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 crew is Svi Mykhailiuk, who not too long ago signed a 4-year, $15 million contract with the Jazz.
“It’s fairly loopy that we have been capable of carry everybody again,” Hauser mentioned. “All people wished to be again and wished to attempt to do that once more. I’m glad the entrance workplace was capable of make it work.”
Now, the crew’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 feel everyone’s fairly pleased with how everyone is staying in Boston,” Hauser mentioned. “We are able to compete once more collectively for an additional yr. Clearly, now we have rather a lot to construct off of. It’ll be enjoyable.”
