In the end, the Celtics have signed two-way participant JD Davison to a two-year deal, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Saturday.
Davison, who was drafted 53rd total by the Celtics in 2022, has spent the final three seasons primarily within the G League and now will get his first actual NBA alternative. He’s recent off his finest season but, having been named G League MVP after averaging 25.1 factors, 7.4 assists, and 5.2 rebounds with the Maine Celtics this previous season. He upped these numbers to an astonishing 34.7 factors and 13.3 assists within the postseason.
From the start of the 12 months, getting an NBA contract was Davison’s main aspiration.
“Coming into 12 months 3, I’m simply making an attempt to construct a special sort of position going into this 12 months,” Davison instructed CelticsBlog earlier this fall. “Attempt to get signed — principally, attempt to get a full contract.”
Now, he’s achieved that purpose — that means that he’ll be eligible to swimsuit up within the postseason, unlikely the Celtics’ earlier two playoff runs. This previous season, Davison has appeared in 15 NBA video games, his most-ever as a Celtic. He bought a season-high 17 minutes of run on Wednesday towards the Magic with the Celtics resting their prime six gamers, however struggled from the sector, taking pictures 0-6.
However, Joe Mazzulla made clear he wasn’t placing an excessive amount of weight into that single sport, a 96-76 blowout loss.
“One sport doesn’t try this, [it’s] a complete physique of labor over the course of video games, practices, exercises, movie classes,” he mentioned. “So, no, there’s not one factor they’ll do tonight that’ll impression what they’ve executed over the season.”
On Friday evening, Davison bought on the board with a thunderous dunk, his final area purpose as a two-way participant within the NBA.
Afterwards, Derrick White mentioned he wasn’t stunned about Davison’s hops.
“I watched the highschool mixtape,” White mentioned with a smile. “I used to be conscious.”
JD Davison’s Celtics teammates noticed this leap coming
JD Davison’s teammates noticed that he had noticeably improved getting into this season.
“You may inform he took it to a different stage in coaching camp,” Jaylen Brown mentioned final month. “I feel he’s been in a position to be taught from our guys, going towards Payton [Pritchard], going towards Jrue [Holiday] and Derrick [White]. He’s gotten so a lot better, and that’s credit score to him. He’s developed at a excessive fee.”
Jrue Vacation gave maybe the most important endorsement for the younger guard.
“He’s positively going to be a very good NBA participant,” he mentioned.
Derrick White has known as Davison the crew’s finest lob thrower on quite a few events and praised his capability to make reads within the pick-and-roll.
Al Horford has been impressed by his work ethic and elevated buy-in over the previous three seasons.
“JD will get it,” Horford instructed CelticsBlog final month.
JD Davison has been with the Celtics for this most up-to-date stretch
After the conclusion of the Maine Celtics playoffs on Sunday, Davison rejoined the Celtics on Tuesday at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Brown, a detailed good friend of Davison’s, smiled when he noticed the 22-year-old within the Celtics’ locker room in New York Metropolis.
“Nice season, my boy,” he mentioned to Davison. “Onto greater and higher issues.”
Then, upon studying Davison’s ridiculous postseason averages, the 2024 Finals MVP grinned and jokingly declared, “He discovered that from me!”
However Davison instructed CelticsBlog that evening that he wasn’t eager about subsequent steps simply but — although the final word purpose of getting a contract was one he’s referenced many instances over time.
“Proper now?” Davison mentioned. “Simply be the place my toes are.”
Now, the Alabama guard will get the long-awaited alternative: a full contract within the NBA.
