Why Jordan Walsh asked to spend his day off with the Maine Celtics

PORTLAND, MAINE — After the Celtics fell to the Grizzlies on Saturday evening — their fifth sport in seven nights — the gamers all regarded 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 guardian 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 had 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 employees 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 total in 2023. However, he has spent all of his sophomore season with Boston thus far, 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.

“At any time when his quantity’s been referred to as, he’s completed 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 evening with a plus/minus of +21, the very best of any participant on both crew.

“I believed 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 comfy with him on the market, and I’ve seen him take steps over the summer season after which, by way of 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.”

Lashbrook, who was additionally a member of the participant growth employees final yr in Boston, liked that Walsh took the initiative to ask to play in Maine.

“That was thrilling to listen to — he desires to be part of this,” Lashbrook mentioned. “He desires 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 possibly a few of them wish to relaxation just a little 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 identify 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.”

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 go 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 because of a late-game name. The G League adheres to the Elam Ending guidelines for additional time, which means that quite than play for an allotted period of time, groups play to 7 additional 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 look in real-time, however that “wanting on the replay, clearly it regarded fairly clear.”

Whatever the sport’s final result, Walsh was glad he determined to make the journey.

“I might have been simply sitting in my crib doing nothing,” Walsh mentioned with a smile. “This can be a means higher different.”