Tremont Waters still close with ‘Summer Celtics’ alumni

The bond forged between Boston Celtics two way point guard Tremont Waters and his Las Vegas Summer League teammates remains strong even now.

Sometimes, what happens in Vegas doesn’t stay there, and Boston Celtics two way point guard Tremont Waters doesn’t mind at all.

While the Summer Celtics — as the substantial group of first-year players playing together in Las Vegas Summer League in 2019 became known — may be playing apart most nights now, Waters still feels connected to his sometimes-teammates.

He’s been balancing the life of a two way player since October, playing most nights with the Maine Red Claws (Boston’s G League affiliate), having brief reunions with Summer Celtics alumni when they get sent to Maine to play with him, or when he’s asked to suit up for the parent club.

Wing Carsen Edwards, fellow two way player Tacko Fall, lottery pick Romeo Langford and forward Grant Williams have all carved out different roles since those halcyon summer days where a bond was formed between them, but they keep in touch even when duty separates.

“They’re all a good group of guys,” Waters related to the New Haven Register’s Dave Borges after a chance to catch up with the bulk of the group Friday as most played for the Celtics against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“We were just laughing and joking right now, just kicking it, because we haven’t seen each other in a while,” he added.

It was Waters’ second impactful game for Boston, logging 5 points in as many minutes against the Cavs, the first being a 7-point, 3-assist, 2-block performance as he helped cover for starting point guard Kemba Walker, out with a freak neck injury on Nov. 24 versus the Sacramento Kings.

“It was a good experience,” he recalled of the outing.

“I didn’t think too much of it, because I know I still have a long way to go. But it was definitely fulfilling to know that I’m able to play at this level and put a stamp on what I already knew, and what obviously the Celtics knew.”

Turning rival general managers’ heads with his dominant play at the G League level, the Connecticut native has been able to show he can hold his own at the next level in limited minutes, too. But for now, Boston has no plans to move the LSU product, instead allowing him to flourish while he hones his skills in Maine.

“Like I always say, I take it one day at a time, don’t try to think about it too much,” Waters said. “I’m just trying to keep focus on doing what I’ve got to do, really,” he added.

Personal tragedy ahead of the transition from college to the pros struck Waters when his father took his own life over the summer, and while his Summer League teammates were crucial to him weathering the storm, he also doesn’t want to talk about it much.

“The best way to approach it was just to be there for him,” explained Edwards.

“Whenever he needed someone to talk to, I didn’t want to invade his privacy or anything. I just kind of wanted to be there for him. If he needed someone to talk to or listen to him, I tried to be there. I try to be there for everyone like that.”

The Purdue product holds Waters in high regard, citing his knowledge of the game and energy as complimentary. “He handles the ball well, he sees people, he can score at his own pace. His I.Q. as a player is really high, so I think that brings a lot to the team,” he noted.

While the Summer Celtics may no longer be in Vegas — or summer, for that matter — they still have a connection. A connection that unites them as they each seek solid footing in a league they’ve only just arrived in.

But with the support and camaraderie they’ve found in each other added to their own respective talents, a league they may all find a career in for many years to come.

“Everything is gonna take care of itself,” offered Waters.