It’s no secret that Jordan Walsh’s Summer time League stint didn’t go as he anticipated. The 20-year-old missed 22 consecutive three-pointers, performed sped up, and struggled to search out his footing.
“I don’t ever wish to hear about that sport ever once more,” Walsh stated with a disenchanted smile after a tough first sport in Las Vegas. Although his remaining sport of Summer time League was his finest, Walsh was candid about how issues went as an entire.
“I really feel like I performed fairly dangerous… I undoubtedly anticipated extra from myself, for positive,” Walsh advised CelticsBlog in July after capturing 29.1% from the sphere throughout 5 video games within the desert.
However, he bounced again with a strong preseason displaying wherein he averaged 9 factors on 45.5% FG. And, although the stats undeniably seemed higher, it was the opposite extra intangible issues — his tempo, defensive power, and instincts — that stood out most.
At observe Friday, Walsh mirrored on his poor Summer time League efficiency.
“I used to be listening to suggestions from household, the staff, all people,” Walsh stated. “It was type of like, ‘okay, yeah. I perceive how I performed was unacceptable to me.’ So, transitioning from that to a development mindset — attempting to develop into a extra full participant, a extra underneath management participant.”
Jordan Walsh says he was listening to suggestions from household and the staff about his Summer time League:
“How I performed was unacceptable to me.”
Says he wished to develop into a extra full and underneath management participant. pic.twitter.com/ncrzd0opEr
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) October 18, 2024
He additionally credited Jrue Vacation for serving to him internalize the significance of slowing down.
“He’s advised me, ‘every time you’re going 100 MPH you will make a mistake. However in case you are going 80-85, you can also make that proper learn, make the suitable determination and see the court docket clearly, 99% of the time.’” Walsh stated.
Final week, Joe Mazzulla stated he was impressed by Walsh’s enhancements throughout the board.
“[He’s] defending at a excessive stage, defending a number of positions, rebounding, after which making reads on the offensive finish,” Mazzulla stated. “Simply actually pleased with his development.”
Joe Mazzulla actually likes what he’s seen out of Jordan Walsh in preseason:
“He’s doing an incredible job — simply actually pleased with his development.”
“He’s beginning to carve out a task and simply displaying a very good angle in direction of it. So, it has been enjoyable to observe him develop.” pic.twitter.com/JCJxM8XaAS
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) October 14, 2024
And, his extra veteran teammates have additionally taken discover of how issues have gone.
“He’s gotten higher, simply throughout,” Sam Hauser stated. “That comes with type of getting extra sport reps, having extra confidence, and simply getting used to taking part in with totally different guys. He showcased rather a lot within the preseason and we’re excited to see what he can do within the common season.”
So, whereas just some months in the past, it appeared that Walsh was destined to spend many of the 12 months in Maine, Mazzulla used him as a rotational participant all through the preseason, albeit with totally different starters sitting out most nights.
“He works laborious at it,” Mazzulla stated. “He’s beginning to carve out a task and simply displaying a very good angle in direction of it. So, it’s been enjoyable to observe him develop.”
Nonetheless, whether or not the second-year ahead can be within the combine for normal season NBA minutes to start the season stays to be seen.
“I nonetheless don’t know,” Walsh stated. “I in all probability received’t know till the primary sport, however I’m hoping for the perfect, and I can work till I get there.”
Turning into a constant three-point shooter is a serious level of emphasis, as was prioritizing the defensive finish and specializing in the main points. If he can flip into the kind of defender scouts initially projected him to be, he would possibly simply discover himself as a 3&D participant on the Celtics.
“I really feel like I’m rising into being extra of an NBA participant,” Walsh stated. “I’m attempting to show that to everybody else, but in addition to show it to myself.”
The suggestions from the teaching workers has been optimistic.
“For probably the most half, they had been simply saying I performed my function very well,” Walsh stated. “They suppose I’ve matured much more than I used to be final 12 months at this level. Even from Summer time League to now, I performed approach higher.”
Nonetheless, an improved preseason displaying doesn’t imply that Jordan Walsh is happy. He is aware of he’s simply firstly of what he hopes can be an extended NBA profession.
“I really feel like I’ve gotta work on all the pieces, truthfully,” Walsh stated. “I really feel like there may be nonetheless a number of incomplete issues in my sport… there may be nonetheless a number of work to be performed.”
