Waters averaged 22.3 points, 7.7 assists, three rebounds and 1.7 steals in six games during the month of November.
Boston Celtics two-way rookie Tremont Waters was named the G League Player of the Month for November, the league announced on Monday afternoon.
Waters averaged 22.3 points, 7.7 assists, three rebounds and 1.7 steals in six games for the Maine Red Claws while he shot 47.8% from the field, including 42.9% from 3-point range. He was named the G League Player of the Week last Monday.
With an injury to Kemba Walker, the Celtics recalled Waters to provide depth in the backcourt and the second-round pick responded by tallying seven points in 19 minutes off of the bench last Monday. He finished a team-best plus-20 while on the court.
Waters has looked to be among the best guards thus far in the G League. He recorded a career-high 33 points on Nov. 27 against the Greensboro Swarm and is coming off of his first double-double on Sunday with 17 points and 10 assists.
Signed to a two-way contract, Waters has shown he is capable of stepping up in spot minutes for the Celtics and his services should prove to be valuable throughout the season.
Boston Celtics rookie point guard Tremont Waters is an NBA talent and he continues to put that on display.
It might have cost his Maine Red Claws the game and their perfect record but Boston Celtics two-way guard Tremont Waters didnāt lose any sleep over the loss.
Waters’ stat line in his NBA debut ā seven points (on 2-7 shooting from the field), two rebounds and three assists against the Sacramento Kings on Monday ā might not seem worth blowing one of the G League’s only two remaining unbeaten records but a closer look tells a different story.
Called up to play for the parent club as All-NBA point guard Kemba Walker recuperated from a frightening injury sustained in a loss to the Denver Nuggets last week, the LSU product sacrificed that spotless record for a chance at meaningful minutes in the NBA.
Following the game, Waters says that it was āa surreal feelingā but thatās heās ānot satisfied with it.ā
āItās a surreal feeling,” Waters said (via MassLive’s Tom Westerholm). “Kids dream of this moment, and to be able to be in this position, to go from the G-League … to come to the NBA level and to help the team actually get a win definitely feels good, but Iām not satisfied with it.ā
“Just got to keep working and everything else will definitely play itself out,ā he added, hungry for another bite of the apple.
In a game won by the thinnest of margins, Waters was one of only two players on the Celtics with a double-digit plus/minus on the night of +20 (the other belonging to SMU product Semi Ojeleye), his ability to calm down an offense having helped keep the Kings from running away with the game.
With news that Walker would returnĀ as soon as Wednesday night against the visiting Brooklyn Nets,Ā Waters was reassigned to the Red Claws after his short-lived stint with Maineās parent club.
Even still, the two way guard ā who, despite being only 5-foot-10 also led the team in blocks with against the Kings with two ā caught the attention of his teammates and head coach Brad Stevens, who had plenty to say after the narrow win.
“You donāt have to get too creative with any actions, you donāt have to run complicated things. You just have to get in space, give him a step and let him run the right play. I think heāll play a lot better when itās not his first time coming out here, but we think heās really good … weāre not going to hesitate to play him.”
Early-season Defensive Player of the Year candidate Marcus Smart was equally effusive in his praise for the young guard’s debut performance at the NBA level, saying, āhe picked up on it quick.ā
“He came in and heās a good true point guard, he was finding everybody, he was getting to his spots. Guyās not afraid, he showed that. He comes out shooting the ball, hit a really big 3 for us down the stretch and really controlled the game. Weāre excited about Tremont and weāre happy to have him here.”
While the Claws may no longer be the winningest team in the G League, they aren’t far behind and it’s not unreasonable to think heāll see more gametime success at both levels in the coming months, perhaps even without an injury to a player as important as Walker.
Waters’ play at both levels has been something of an eyebrow-raiser just when the banged-up Celtics needed a lift and fresh off of receivingĀ G League Player of the Week honors, heās shown he can help out in a big way when his number is called.
Maybe even scarier to opponents is a sagacious observation from the longest-tenured Celtic Smart:
“Heās only going to continue to get better.”
In his first game back with the Red Claws, Waters would score 33 of the teamās record 155 points, while dishing out seven assists in a win over the Greensboro Swarm.
crafty finishes and long range bombs š | #2WayPlayer Tremont Waters
Boston is lucky they managed to keep Waters on a two-way because there are plenty of teams in the league that could use a backup point guard of his caliber. Rookie or not.
Rookie Wire took a look at the top rookies through the fifth week of the 2019-20 NBA season.
The 2019 NBA Draft class has continued to impress this season.
The group has produced some fascinating storylines thus far with the emergence of several under-the-radar players while the top players selected are playing as expected.
Rookie Wire will compile the rankings of the five best players each week based on how they performed on the court. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the top-performing players week to week.
Here are the Rookie Wire Power Rankings for Week 5:
Herro returns to the rankings for the first time since Week 1 after showing out recently for the Heat. The 13th overall pick is back up to fifth in scoring among all rookies after recording 18 points in three of his last four games. Herro has proven to be able to get hot this season and is seemingly always a candidate to go off, thus making him one of the top rookies to watch on any given night. His swag, as Jimmy Butler said, is one reason to tune in.
While Ja Morant has captured the bulk of the headlines in Memphis, and rightfully so, Brandon Clarke has also emerged onto the scene. While he is seventh in scoring, Clarke gets it done all over the court and his shot selection has truly been a revelation. He is one of the most efficient players in the league after shooting 63.6% from the field and has developed one of the nicest floaters in the NBA today. An expanded role in the Grizzlies’ system could increase his numbers but he has flourished to this point of the season.
The second-round pick has certainly not played like one this season. Paschall is third in scoring average among rookies but is second in total points scored, trailing Ja Morant by just five. Given the number of injuries to the Warriors, Paschall has emerged as one of the top options on offense and has been a bright spot for the team thus far. He is coming off of his second double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Nunn is fresh off of one of his most efficient outings of the season on Monday night. The undrafted guard recorded 19 points against the Charlotte Hornets on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range. Nunn recently told Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype that he believes he can be a future All-Star and his first season with the Heat certainly has the makings of a successful career.
Morant turned in one of his most impressive games of the season on Saturday in a shootout with the Los Angeles Lakers. He recorded 26 points, six assists, five steals and three rebounds in the one-point loss. Morant became the first rookie since John Wall in 2010 to reach those numbers in a game. He followed that performance up with 19 points for his second career double-double on Monday in a game in which he left briefly after taking a scary fall into a courtside camera operator. He would return to the game and appeared to be fine but the Grizzlies certainly caught a break after he wasn’t seriously hurt.
š Ja Morant steals the ball, fakes out Kuzma & scores!
Barrett averaged 10.5 points over his last two games after sitting out Sunday due to an illness. He is still fourth in scoring among rookies and will look to get back on track Wednesday on the road against his hometown Toronto Raptors.
Coby White, Bulls:Ā 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists
The boom-or-bust potential with White has been fascinating this season. He recorded a career-high 28 points on Saturday but followed that up with eight points on Monday. If he can gain some consistency this season, White would certainly have a place among the best in the rookie class. He is shooting 43.5% from 3-point range over his last four games.
Hachimura has struggled some over his last four games after shooting 43.6% from the field for the Wizards. Like White, he has also had issues with consistency at times as his playing time has been sporadic. Hachimura has shown flashes this season but, like most rookies, is still learning the ins and outs of the NBA.
On the Rise:
De’Andre Hunter, Hawks:
Suddenly, after a slow start to the season, Hunter has been on a tear recently. He scored the most points among rookies over the past week and is averaging 19.5 points over his last four games. He is shooting 50% from the field and 50% (11-of-22) from beyond the arc in that span.
Ky Bowman, Warriors:
The Warriors’ two-way rookie is averaging 19 points over his last three games, including a career-high 24 points against the Thunder on Monday. He has been on fire from all over the floor and is producing in a pinch for the injury-rattled Warriors.
Shout Out:
Tremont Waters, Celtics
With Kemba Walker out on Monday, the Celtics called up Waters from the G League. The two-way guard may have only scored seven points in his NBA debut but he made quite an impression on the team and it likely won’t be the last time we see Waters with the Celtics.
Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker appears set to return to the floor against the Brooklyn Nets.
With Kemba Walker having his injury status upgraded to probable against the Brooklyn Nets, the Boston Celtics have sent rookie point guard Tremont Waters back to the Maine Red Claws.
Gordon Hayward (left hand fracture) – OUT Romeo Langford (right ankle sprain) – OUT Daniel Theis (illness) – QUESTIONABLE Kemba Walker (neck sprain) – PROBABLE
A few days ago, when Walker was on the hardwood trying to collect himself after smashing headfirst into forward Semi Ojeleye, it seemed improbable that the Celtics would have their star guard available in the near future.
Bostonās matchup against the Brooklyn Nets will be heavily watched one way or another; although Nets superstar Kyrie Irving is out with a shoulder impingement, Walkerās return to the court will be received with plenty of fanfare.
With Kemba Walker sidelined on Monday, Tremont Waters stepped in from the G League to give the Celtics solid production in his NBA debut.
Boston Celtics two-way rookie guard Tremont Waters recorded seven points in his NBA debut on Monday night during a 103-102 win over the Sacramento Kings.
With Kemba Walker out due to a neck sprain, the Celtics recalled Waters from the G League on Sunday to provide some backcourt depth. In 19 minutes off of the bench, Waters finished a team-high plus-20 on the court while adding three assists and two rebounds.
In place of Walker, Marcus Smart earned the start but Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said prior to the game that he wasn’t opposed to starting Waters. The second-round pick was named the G League Player of the Week on Monday and has looked to be among the best guards thus far in the G League. In five games with the Maine Red Claws, Waters is averaging 20.2 points, 7.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds.
Waters gave the Celtics solid production off of the bench on Monday and looked engaged on both ends of the floor, even channeling his inner Marcus Smart by being a pest on defense. After logging crunch time minutes in the fourth quarter, the Celtics certainly feel confident in his abilities.
After a scary collision on Friday, Walker was forced to be taken off of the court on a stretcher. Fortunately, he suffered only a neck sprain and even tried to play on Monday, a decision the Celtics opted against. So, it appears as though Walker could return on Wednesday, which would likely send Waters back to Maine.
In any case, the performance by Waters on Monday should give the rookie, and the Celtics, confidence that he can contribute in spot minutes when called upon in the future.
The Boston Celtics survived the Buddy Hield show thanks to Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart.
Although they couldnāt seem to contain Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield, who unleashed canned a career-high 11 threes against the Boston Celtics en route to a 41-point night, the Celtics would trade baskets with the Kings for much of the game and lean on strong performances from Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart to pull out a narrow win (103-102) over their Western Conference foes.
The trio scored 61 of the teamās points, good for 59.2% of the total, with each continuing to do the things that had made them successful on offense to this point in the season.
With Brown attacking the rim and using his explosiveness to his advantage, Tatum showing off his combination of footwork and shooting touch and Smart finding the mark with a series of runners and floaters, Boston was able to keep up with Sacramentoās Bohemian baller.
However, it still took two clutch shots from Smart at the end of the game ā and a defensive play by Robert Williams III on the final possession ā for the Celtics to secure the win while shorthanded.
With star guard Kemba Walker sidelined with a neck sprain and starting center Daniel Theis out with an illness, Smart would start at point guard and make a number of plays as a scorer and facilitator on his way to 17 points (on 7-12 shooting) and seven assists.
Kanter, though unable to defend on the perimeter as well as Theis and contributing to the reason Hield was able to be open on a couple of plays, bullied Kings center in the post on his way to 13 points (and nine rebounds).
As exciting of a game as it was for Celtics fans, the most riveting experience was the NBA debut of rookie point guard Tremont Waters. Seemingly already beloved by the locker room, community and Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, Waters had a rough night shooting the ball but consistently showed off his basketball IQ.
Waters ā whom Brown has nicknamed āYoung Oldheadā to highlight his on-court savvy, finished the night with seven points (on 2-7 shooting from the field), three assists, one steal, two blocks and two turnovers in 19 minutes.
Tonight's Drain of the Game is presented by Johnās Sewer & Drain Cleaning. Tremont Waters hits a 3 in his NBA debut pic.twitter.com/CwuFc5NdbC
The Celtics may have Walker back for their next game, as the guard could have potentially played against the Kings had Boston not wanted to take precaution.
Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker will miss the teamās game against the Sacramento Kings but they may have another player proficient in the pick-and-roll in mind to replace him in the starting lineup.
Per an announcement from the Boston Celtics, star point guard Kemba Walker and starting center Daniel Theis have been listed as out against the Sacramento Kings, with Walker still ailing from a neck sprain he sustained on Friday and Theis recently contracting an illness.
Celtics head coach Brad Stevens has played coy about who could start in Walkerās place, suggesting that even recently called-up rookie point guard Tremont Waters could get the opportunity (per The Athleticās Jay King). With Waters running the show in the starting unit, heāll be able to mimic Walkerās pick-and-roll heavy style while helping keep Stevensā rotation as is.
Boston has been dealing with injuries since before the season began, staying true to their āHospital Celticsā nickname. However, the Celtics have lost three out of their last four games and will need to overcome their recent losses in order to right their suddenly rocky ship.
Tremont Waters averaged 24 points, 8.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds, two steals and one block in two games last week with the Maine Red Claws.
Boston Celtics two-way rookie Tremont Waters has been named the G League Player of the Week for the week ending Nov. 24, the league announced Monday afternoon.
Waters averaged 24 points, 8.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds, two steals and one block in two games last week with the Maine Red Claws. He shot 50% from the field and 42.1% from 3-point range.
The guard recorded 24 points in both games last week and was recently called up to the Celtics with Kemba Walker listed as doubtful to play on Monday after suffering a neck sprain on Friday.
Waters is averaging 20.2 points, 7.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds in five G League games while he is shooting 44.7% from the field, including 40% from 3-point range.
He has yet to make his official Celtics debut.
Waters has played well to this point of the season and has easily looked like one of the top guards in the G League. Given his strong start, he looks ready to contribute with the Celtics if given the chance.
The Maine Red Claws continue to capitalize on the wealth of players sent down from the Boston Celtics, earning their first 5-0 start in team history.
The Maine Red Claws are off to steaming-hot start, continuing to cook their opponents at a historic rate.
With their 118-108 victory over the Westchester Knicks (the G League affiliate of the eponymous NBA team) at the Portland Expo Center on Nov. 24, the team is now owns its first-ever 5-0 start after debuting in the 2009-10 season.
Much of the feat can be attributed to an unusually talented roster populated by oft-injured lottery pick Romeo Langford and both of the team’s two-way players, center Tacko Fall and point guard Tremont Waters, along with a couple of players who were notable figures in the G League last season in forwardās Kaiser Gates and Yante Maten.
In Saturday’s tilt, Langford continued to rehabilitate a sprained ankleĀ as Waters and Fall ā an almost comical duo given the notable difference in height between the two (5-foot-10 and 7-foot-5, respectively) ā helped carry the team to victory behind undrafted rookie Bryce Brown’s game-high 29 points.
Fall logged yet another double-double, pulling down 10 boards to pair with 11 points (scored on 4-of-8 shooting) in 19 minutes, while Waters scored 24 points while dishing out eight assists.
The LSU product is being called up to reinforce the parent club’s backcourt with former UConn standout Kemba Walker nursing a sprained neck sustained in the team’s game against the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 22, just ahead of the Red Claws’ showdown with fellow unbeaten G League competitor, the Memphis Hustle (also owning a 5-0 record) on Nov. 25.
It’s unclear if Waters will make the trip to Southaven, MS. for the early-season battle for G League supremacy but Maine will easily face their toughest test of the season whether the Connecticut native can make the game or not.
For Waters, having a chance to show what he can do on the sport’s highest level of competition at a moment his skills are truly needed is far from the worst consolation prize one could get in return.
In fact, itās what the G League is all about: getting players onto the worldās largest stage to put their games on display.
Boston Celtics rookie point guard Tremont Waters has been tearing it up in the G League and could see time on the floor in the event that the injured Kemba Walker is out for Boston.
Per the Boston Celtics, rookie point guard Tremont Waters ā the 51st pick in the 2019 NBA Draft ā has been recalled from his assignment with the NBA G Leagueās Maine Red Claws. Waters is on a two-way contract with the Celtics, so he can spend a maximum of 45 days with Boston.
Waters, though undersized at 5-foot-10, is an exceptional playmaker who routinely makes high IQ plays for his teammates and consistently creates space for himself off the bounce.
Heās averaging 20.2 points, 7.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 0.6 blocks in 31.6 minutes per game this season for the Red Claws, having played in all five of Maineās contests to this point.
The 21-year-old has likely been called up due to the neck injury sustained by starting point guard Kemba Walker during Fridayās game against the Denver Nuggets.
Walker was listed as doubtful by the team for Mondayās game against the Sacramento Kings but considering the expected severity of his injury, one would expect the three-time All-Star to get the day off.
If Walker is unable to start, second-year NBA pro Brad Wanamaker will likely assume the starting role and lend his steady hand to the team. Wanamaker has averaged 7.1 points, 2.8 assists and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 53.0% from the field and 35.3% from three this season.
