Baylor Scheierman is ready to be a Celtic: ‘It was an honor that they felt confident enough to pick me’

With the thirtieth choose within the 2024 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics chosen Creighton wing Baylor Scheierman. However earlier than he was a Blue Jay, he was a South Dakota State Jackrabbit.

And earlier than Boston labored him out forward of the 2024 NBA Draft, they introduced him in two years in the past.

“The primary time coming by means of, clearly, was a few years in the past,” Scheierman mentioned throughout his introductory press convention with the Celtics. “They actually preferred my sport. Simply my means to sort of affect the sport in numerous methods, whether or not that be taking pictures, passing, dribbling, or simply my IQ. They usually felt like I might get somewhat stronger, somewhat faster, somewhat extra explosive a few years in the past.

“That’s sort of what I attempted to enhance on these final two years at Creighton, and I really feel like I did that, which sort of put me within the place to be the place I’m proper now.”

After figuring out with the Celtics earlier than the 2022 NBA Draft, Scheierman obtained again within the lab. He transferred to Creighton in hopes of constant his improvement, and that’s precisely what occurred.

Scheierman’s numbers improved annually with the Jackrabbits, and whereas they took a dip in his first season with the Bule Jays, they jumped proper again up. In his fifth and last collegiate season, Scheierman put up the perfect numbers of his school profession.

He averaged 18.5 factors, 9.0 rebounds, and three.9 assists whereas taking pictures 44.8% from the sphere and 38.1% from behind the three-point line.

Using his earlier pre-draft course of as a springboard, Scheierman took full benefit of his time at Creighton to place himself into the place he’s in right now.

“I feel it sort of simply opened up my eyes, that my first time figuring out, sort of simply what I wanted to enhance on, and sort of what the NBA sport was sort of all about,” Scheierman mentioned.

“After which clearly, these final two years at Creighton sort of simply actually engaged on that, and the flexibility to come back on this yr and sort of simply show that I’ve grown as a participant and as an individual, and I feel that basically helped me, clearly, all through this course of and ending up getting chosen.”

On draft night time, with 29 picks gone, Scheierman was nonetheless ready to listen to his title. And with the NBA Draft’s new two-day format in impact, he was one choice away from having to convey his family and friends again to a second day of anticipation.

That’s when he obtained the decision.

“I used to be very anxious coming in direction of the tip of the primary spherical,” Scheierman mentioned. “And clearly, [I] obtained the telephone name there whereas the Celtics had been on the clock. And as quickly as I obtained the telephone name, I used to be tremendous excited.

“Clearly, being picked by this group that simply got here off an NBA championship, a company that, clearly, doesn’t simply choose anyone to come back into their staff, it was an honor that they felt assured sufficient to choose me and felt like I might are available in and simply affect the staff in any method I can and attempt to assist them simply proceed this tradition that they have already got set.”

As soon as the Celtics made their choose, Scheierman heard from his new teammates. Brad Stevens, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, and Joe Mazulla all reached out to the rookie to welcome him to Boston.

“Final night time, Brad reached out to me,” Scheierman mentioned. “And clearly, I talked to him my first time working on the market, after which clearly this previous time working on the market as nicely. Had among the guys attain out. Jayson and Al reached out, and Coach Mazzulla as nicely. And that meant so much to me.

“I’m clearly actually excited to get there and meet everyone and my new teammates and actually simply attempt to be a sponge and be taught from everyone and attempt to consumption as a lot info as I can that can assist me develop as a participant within the NBA.”

And as a lot as Scheierman loves the model of basketball Boston performs, he loves the way in which the staff carries itself much more.

“I simply actually preferred the staff chemistry that they’ve,” he mentioned. “All people performs a job, and they’re actually good at. It’s a staff sport, and so they perceive that, and so they’re all the time deflecting credit score to at least one one other, and that’s the way it needs to be. The sport of basketball is clearly a staff sport, and clearly, they’ve large gamers as nicely, which is why they had been capable of win the NBA championship.

“However the staff chemistry is one thing that basically caught out to me, and I feel that’s one thing that I can are available in and likewise simply add to that as nicely. Type of simply being a connector and simply having the ability to affect the sport in any method I can to assist them win.”

Now, with the Celtics, Scheierman is hoping to translate his all-around talent set into an impactful profession. He’s the one NCAA Division I basketball participant ever with 2,000 factors, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists, and 300 three-pointers. Clearly, 5 years of school ball helps these stats, however his well-rounded sport shines by means of, regardless.

Recent off a title, Boston’s rotation is pretty set. However Scheierman isn’t anxious about becoming in. The most recent Celtic needs to do three issues: Win, hustle, and revel in enjoying basketball.

“I’m a tough employee. I prefer to work, and I prefer to compete,” Scheierman mentioned. “I like to simply affect the sport in any method I can. [I] prefer to affect successful, whether or not that’s diving on the ground, making threes, or blocking pictures, no matter that is likely to be. And I prefer to have enjoyable whereas doing it.

“I feel basketball, clearly, is a sport that’s meant to be loved, and so, after I’m on the market on the court docket, I identical to to have quite a lot of enjoyable and prefer to compete.”