BOSTON — Back at TD Garden for the first time since he was waived in July, JD Davison reflected on a three-year Celtics tenure that failed to set up an NBA breakthrough — but nonetheless prepared him for another opportunity in Houston.
Ahead of the Celtics’ 128-101 loss to the Rockets on Saturday night, Davison expressed his gratitude for the years he spent with the Celtics, while pulling back the curtain on what went down this past summer in a conversation with CLNS Media/CelticsBlog.
Davison was
waived in July, just a few weeks after the Celtics picked up his team option. The 23-year-old said that he had a heads-up that the Celtics would waive him before the second year of a two-year deal that briefly made him a full-time NBA player ahead of last postseason.
That set up an opportunity to sign a fourth two-way deal with Houston, where he reunited with Ime Udoka, the former Celtics head coach who was at the helm when the Celtics drafted Davison with the 53rd overall pick in 2022.
“My agent was ahead of it and told me everything,” Davison said. “We were 2-3 steps ahead of it, so I almost knew everything (during the offseason). We were talking… we were always looking here and just found the right place for me.”
Davison thrived this preseason to begin his year with the Rockets
In four preseason games, Davison averaged 10.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 21 minutes per game, while shooting 48.4% from the field and 47.1% from three.
“He’s been great,” Ime Udoka told reporters at training camp, per The Rockets Wire. “Very aggressive, handles well, makes good decisions out of the pick and roll. He’s a big body who can pick up full court, so he brings aggression on both sides of the ball.”
That hasn’t yet translated to regular-season playing time through Houston’s 2-2 start, but he’s been active in all four games. Starting point guard Fred VanVleet tore his ACL early in training camp, and as such, more opportunities are expected to be available at the guard position remains to be seen.
So far, Davison is thoroughly enjoying his time with the Rockets.
“It’s great here,” Davison said. “I built a great relationship with the guys. I’m talking more here. It’s kind of different, but I’m also loving everything.”
“I was kind of nervous — I’m a young guy coming into a new organization,” Davison said. “But they kind of embraced me, as soon as I got in, and kind of knew what I could do.”
But, on Saturday night, it was nice to be back home — back in the city where he’s spent much of the past three years, where he won G League MVP and earned his first-ever standard NBA contract.
After the final buzzer sounded, Davison embraced with several longtime teammates, including Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, while also catching up with former coaches and team personnel. Current Celtics assistant coach Tyler Lashbrook, who served as Davison’s head coach in Maine last season, lit up as he reconnected with the former star.
“Man, it’s great to see my people again, the ones I played with and also competed against those guys,” Davison said. “I always competed against (them) in training camp and practice, whatever the case may be, and try to come in here and get a win.”
The reigning G-League MVP continues to believe in his ability to make it in the NBA, so the departure from Boston didn’t devastate him.
He knew that he wouldn’t play many minutes with the organization, but he embraced his role as a development fixture, leading the Maine Celtics to another playoff appearance while stuffing the stat sheet. In his final season with Maine, he averaged 25.6 points, 5 rebounds, and 7.8 assists on 48.1% shooting and became the franchise’s all-time leader in points, assists, and steals.
Joe Mazzulla and Brad Stevens wished him well before he went south.
“They always appreciated me, they appreciated the work I did, and they appreciated the growth, and I appreciate them for the same,” Davison said.
In Boston, Davison’s former Celtics teammates continue to figure out life without Jayson Tatum and numerous other key departures from the 2024 championship team. The Rockets, meanwhile, hope to contend for a championship after acquiring Kevin Durant this past summer.
Davison and Tatum talk on Instagram occasionally, along with other teammates.
“I keep in touch with all of those guys,” he said.
For now, the former Celtics guard is hoping to capitalize on another chance to make his dream come true.
“I had a good training camp this summer,” Davison said. “I’ve been working my butt off, and I look forward to the opportunity.”
