Jordan Walsh has been having an outstanding year for the Boston Celtics, breaking out as a legitimate two-way threat. After two seasons of DNPs and garbage time minutes, Walsh is now averaging 7 points,
4.9 rebounds, and 1 steal per game while shooting 58.5% from the floor and 47.3% from three. The numbers don’t even begin to highlight his impact, but show tangible improvement from previous seasons.
It took some time for Jordan to get started with his first big game coming nine games into the season. Walsh contributed an efficient 7 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals in a defensive masterclass. From there, he seemed to take off, winning his matchups and doing all the little things along with it. After just three more games, Joe Mazzulla promoted Walsh to the starting lineup, and it felt like the team couldn’t keep him off the floor.
Jordan started 20 consecutive games (that he was available for). It wasn’t until a matchup with the Toronto Raptors that he showed any signs of slowing down. Walsh was questionable for that game with an illness, and seemed a step slower than usual. He played just under 13 minutes and missed the following one. It was the beginning of a mini-slump, averaging just 2.8 points and 2 rebounds across five games.
In Saturday’s matchup against the red-hot Clippers, Joe Mazzulla decided to change things up, replacing Walsh with Sam Hauser in the starting lineup. That seemed to light a fire under Walsh, who erupted for 13 points and 13 boards off the bench in just under 30 minutes.
Jordan made crucial play after crucial play. He was locked in on every loose ball like a homing missile. Of his 13 rebounds, six were offensive. He was a jolt of energy on a night where the Celtics already came out swinging, cleaning up the rare misses in a game where both teams shot 50% or better from the floor. Thanks in large part to his effort, Boston racked up 21 second-chance points compared to LA’s 9.
Walsh himself shot 5-7 from the floor (3-4 from beyond the arc). At one point in the game, the Clippers broadcasters said, “you cannot leave him open,” a sentence that I don’t think I would have ever expected to be said about Jordan coming into this season. It’s clear that he’s been putting in the work, and is incredibly motivated to earn his spot on the floor.
Walsh, a third-year player out of Arkansas, is still just 21 years old. He still has plenty of room for growth, but based on what he’s shown so far this season, I have no reason to doubt that he will do everything in his power to maximize his potential. It may go under the radar since his season stats don’t jump out at you, but he’s an incredibly worthy candidate for Most Improved Player and has certainly shown how important he will be for the Celtics this season and beyond.
