Tag: Las Vegas Summer League

New Boston Celtics big man Neemias Queta in the NBA’s 2023 Las Vegas Summer League

The Portuguese center put up modest numbers with the Sacramento last season, but dominated at the G League level with the Stockton Kings.

The Boston Celtics signed exactly the sort of big man they had been lacking by bringing on former Sacramento Kings center Neemias Queta on a two-way contract for the 2023-24 season. The next order of business for Celtics fans is figuring out more about how the newest Boston big plays ball.

The Portuguese center put up modest numbers with the Sacramento last season, but he dominated at the G League level with the Stockton Kings. He averaged 16.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and nearly a steal per game in 2022-23. The former second-round pick will likely spend most of his time with the Maine Celtics, but he can put the ball on the floor a bit and use his soft touch around the basket to surprise unwitting defenders. He could see some time with Boston as a defensive option against stouter opposing bigs.

Check out the clip embedded below to see how he played in the NBA’s 2023 Las Vegas Summer League via a highlight clip put together by fan-favorite Celtics videographer Tomasz Kordylewski.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

A vocal leader, and a capable shooter, Jordan Walsh impressed Jay Scrubb in summer league play

The pair of new Celtics will likely spend some time together in Maine – but both could see time in Boston as well.

[anyclip pubname=”2123″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8170″]

Boston Celtics two-way wing Jay Scrubb gained a chance to spend time with one of the other new additions to Boston’s roster for the 2023-24 season, forward Jordan Walsh.

The Celtics’ No. 38 pick of the 2023 draft spent time with Scrubb at the 2023 Las Vegas Summer League playing with the former Arkansas player, and Scrubb had praise for his new teammate in a recent interview with Green With Envy’s Adam Taylor.

“For me, with it being my fourth year in the league and me being a younger guy, I would say his best underrated attribute to me is (that) he’s a vocal leader” shared Scrubb. “He’s 18-19 and the fact that he can come in and be that guy to where I can pull to the side and I could ask him a few things about his experience with colleges, being that I didn’t get a chance to experience (hem), that I could ask him, how was your experience?”

“And he’ll give me a well-rounded answer,” said Scrubb, who was one of the first players in years to be drafted out of junior college. “So I would say just like he’s a vocal leader.”

“And in summer league, he really surprised me shooting the ball,” shared the two-way guard. “I already knew … in practice, seeing him shoot and working out with him after practice and stuff like that.

“I knew he was a capable shooter, but going into the summer league, I thought he shot the ball really well. He impressed me.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Jordan Walsh’s 2023 Las Vegas Summer League highlights

Will the Texan wing’s outstanding play in the annual Nevada exhibition series translate to the next level?

After being picked by the Boston Celtics with the 38th pick of the 2023 NBA draft, former Arkansas Razorbacks defensive menace Jordan Walsh emerged as one of the best players at the NBA’s 2023 Las Vegas Summer League. Surprising everyone save his shooting coach, he shot 40% from beyond the arc while playing his trademark quality defense.

Will the Texan wing’s outstanding play in the annual Nevada exhibition series translate to the next level with Boston? Or will Walsh need seasoning with the the G League Maine Celtics in Portland?

While we wait for answers to those questions, check out the clip embedded below to hear some of his best plays, quotes and moments from this past month in Las Vegas with the Sin City Celtics courtesy of CLNS Media.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Barlow: Celtics’ Jordan Walsh ranked among top 10 second-round picks

The former Arkansas star has emerged as a force to be reckoned with on the court, at least in summer league.

The Boston Celtics’ No. 38 pick of the 2023 NBA draft, Jordan Walsh, is known mainly for his defensive abilities. But he turned a lot of heads with his impressive scoring and 3-point shooting during the NBA’s 2023 Las Vegas Summer League.

Despite earlier doubts about his offensive skills based on his single season at the NCAA level with the Razorbacks, the former Arkansas star has emerged as a force to be reckoned with on the court, at least in summer league contexts. Walsh has been fearless in letting it fly from beyond the arc, hinting at a potentially larger role sooner than many expected.

Host of the “Locked On Big Board” podcast Raphael Barlow liked what he saw from the Texan wing so much that he included Walsh in his list of the top second round picks playing in Las Vegas.

To hear more about his assessment of the new Celtics wing, check out the clip embedded above.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Best of Jordan Walsh with the Boston Celtics in Las Vegas Summer League

By most accounts, the Boston Celtics’ No. 38 pick of the 2023 NBA draft has been one of the best rookies in Las Vegas.

By most accounts, the Boston Celtics’ No. 38 pick of the 2023 NBA draft has been one of the best rookies playing in the NBA’s 2023 Las Vegas Summer League, even finding Jordan Walsh estimated above lottery picks like Amen and Ausar Thompson.

The Texan wing looked every bit the part in summer league play, putting up an impressive 16.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game with the Sin City Celtics. Walsh played 26.8 minutes a game in all five of the Summer Celtics’ tilts in the annual Nevada exhibition series, committing a lower-than-expected 3.2 personal fouls and 1.8 turnovers per game while shooting 42.2% from the floor overall, a higher-than-expected 40.7% from beyond the arc, and 78.9% from the free throw line.

To see the best of the former Arkansas Razorbacks star tearing it up for the Celtics in Las Vegas, check out the highlight clip embedded below put together by fan videographer Tomasz Kordylewski.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Best of Jay Scrubb with the Boston Celtics in Las Vegas Summer League

The Boston Celtics liked what they saw from unsigned guard Jay Scrubb with the Sin City Celtics so much that they offered him a two way deal with the ball club even before the NBA’s 2023 Las Vegas Summer League had ended

The Boston Celtics liked what they saw from unsigned guard Jay Scrubb with the Sin City Celtics so much that they offered him a two way deal with the ball club even before the NBA’s 2023 Las Vegas Summer League had ended for the summer. And after watching his play in the five games Boston played in this iteration of the annual Nevada exhibition series, it is not hard to see why.

Starting in one of those five contests, the Louisville native put up 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 steals per game with the Summer Celtics while turning the ball over twice a contest and picking up 2 personal fouls per game with Boston in Vegas.

Scrubb shot a solid 46.3% from the field, an excellent 40.0% from beyond the arc, and 77.8% from the charity stripe in 14.4 minutes of game time on average.

To see the best of his summer league play in 2023, check out the clip embedded above put together by Tomasz Kordylweski.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Boston’s Jordan Walsh ranked fifth of all Las Vegas Summer League rookies

Coming in higher than two lottery picks in the Thompson twins, Amen and Ausar, the fourth and fifth picks respectively.

The NBA’s annual Las Vegas Summer League is an opportunity for players on the fringes of the league to showcase their skills and potentially earn a spot on a team’s roster — whether that roster is in the NBA, the G League, or abroad. And Boston Celtics rookie wing Jordan Walsh has found himself ranked among the best incoming rookies of the 2023 draft cohort.

Fifth out of all incoming rookies, in fact, by SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell, coming in higher than two lottery picks in the Thompson twins, Amen and Ausar, the fourth and fifth picks respectively. Before you get too excited, remember this is just for summer league — not future potential. That said, Walsh has a lot more of it than he was credited by virtue of his No. 38 draft position — not that Celtics fans are complaining.

“Walsh’s combination of size and defense helped make him a five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American out of Link Academy, but his lack of offensive development as a freshman at Arkansas pushed him down to the No. 38 pick in the draft,” notes O’Donnell.

The big surprise in Las Vegas was how much better his offense already looks at this level,” he adds. “Walsh will still make his money on the defensive end, where he’s quick enough to guard guards, strong enough to defend forwards, and long enough … to contest shots regardless of the matchup.”

“The offense was more surprising: Walsh was taking and making 3-pointers, attacking without fear, and finding ways to make shots from floater range. Just adding a decent jump shot would take Walsh’s game to the next level, and he might already be there.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Best of Olek Balcerowski with the Boston Celtics in Las Vegas Summer League

Polish big man Olek Balcerowski has had himself a very solid showing with the Boston Celtics in the NBA’s 2023 Las Vegas Summer League

Polish big man Olek Balcerowski has had himself a very solid showing with the Boston Celtics in the NBA’s 2023 Las Vegas Summer League over the course of the five games the Grand Canaria center suited up for the Sin City Celtics this summer.

In those five contests, Balcerowski put up 7.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game while committing just 0.6 turnovers and picking up 3.8 personal fouls in each contest. The Swidnica native shot a very good 52.4% from the field overall, a concerning 20.0% from beyond the arc, and a solid 77.8% from the free throw line in Las Vegas play.

While technically an unrestricted free agent after going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, the Celtics would have to have liked what they saw from Balcerowski enough to sign him to a regular contract given he would need to be bought out from Grand Canaria to join Boston’s roster for the 2023-24 season.

Such a move is not out of the question if the Celtics liked what they saw, but until they make a decision, check out the clip embedded above to see the best of his summer league play with Boston courtesy of Tomek Kordylewski’s YouTube channel.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Recapping the Boston Celtics’ 2023 Las Vegas Summer League

The Celtics got good looks at players like Reggie Kissoonlal, Vincent Valerio-Bodon, Justin Bean, Olek Balcerowski, and Udoka Azubuike.

The Boston Celtics had a mixed performance in the NBA’s 2023 Las Vegas Summer League, finishing 2-3 and missing the playoffs. There was plenty to learn from the Celtics’ participation in the annual Nevada exhibition series nonetheless.

The Celtics gained good looks at Reggie Kissoonlal, Vincent Valerio-Bodon, Justin Bean, Olek Balcerowski and Udoka Azubuike.

The team felt good enough about Jay Scrubb’s play in the backcourt to sign him to a two-way deal after a strong series of games. Scrubb was one of the Celtics’ most consistent players.

The hosts of the “How Bout Them Celtics!” podcast sat down to talk over summer league as a whole on an episode.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say about what we should take away from what we saw in Las Vegas this year.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Best of Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic in Las Vegas Summer League

The Sin City Celtics managed to best the Summer Magic 94-77 with arguably their best game of the summer.

The NBA’s 2023 Las Vegas Summer League is over for the Boston Celtics, who went 2-3 in the annual Nevada exhibition series. The Celtics did not win their second game of summer league until the last game against the Orlando Magic.

The Sin City Celtics managed to best the Magic, 94-77, with arguably their best game of the summer, playing a team-oriented and connected game rarely seen in such contexts. The Celtics were led in scoring by forward Vincent Valerio-Bodon’s 13 points, in assists by JD Davison and Kamar Baldwin with 6 each, on the boards by Valerio-Bodon’s 6, in steals by Reggie Kissoonlal’s 3, and in blocks by Jay Scrubb and Kissoonlal with 2 apiece.

If you missed the last Celtics game until preseason rolls around later this fall or just want to see it again, check out the full game highlight clip put together by the NBA’s official YouTube channel that we have embedded below.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]