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 via, clearly, was a few years in the past,” Scheierman mentioned throughout his introductory press convention with the Celtics. “They actually appreciated my recreation. Simply my potential to type of impression the sport in several methods, whether or not that be capturing, passing, dribbling, or simply my IQ. And so they felt like I may get slightly stronger, slightly faster, slightly extra explosive a few years in the past.
“That’s type of what I attempted to enhance on these final two years at Creighton, and I really feel like I did that, which type of put me within the place to be the place I’m proper now.”
After understanding with the Celtics earlier than the 2022 NBA Draft, Scheierman bought 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 ultimate collegiate season, Scheierman put up the very best numbers of his faculty profession.
He averaged 18.5 factors, 9.0 rebounds, and three.9 assists whereas capturing 44.8% from the sector and 38.1% from behind the three-point line.
Picture by Mitchell Layton/Getty Photographs
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 at the moment.
“I feel it type of simply opened up my eyes, that my first time understanding, type of simply what I wanted to enhance on, and type of what the NBA recreation was type of all about,” Scheierman mentioned.
“After which clearly, these final two years at Creighton type of simply actually engaged on that, and the flexibility to return on this 12 months and type of simply show that I’ve grown as a participant and as an individual, and I feel that actually 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 deliver his family and friends again to a second day of anticipation.
That’s when he bought the decision.
“I used to be very anxious coming in direction of the top of the primary spherical,” Scheierman mentioned. “And clearly, [I] bought the telephone name there whereas the Celtics have been on the clock. And as quickly as I bought the telephone name, I used to be tremendous excited.
“Clearly, being picked by this group that simply got here off an NBA championship, a corporation that, clearly, doesn’t simply choose anyone to return into their workforce, it was an honor that they felt assured sufficient to choose me and felt like I may are available and simply impression the workforce in any approach 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 effectively. Had among the guys attain out. Jayson and Al reached out, and Coach Mazzulla as effectively. And that meant lots to me.
“I’m clearly actually excited to get there and meet all people and my new teammates and actually simply attempt to be a sponge and be taught from all people and attempt to consumption as a lot data as I can that may assist me develop as a participant within the NBA.”
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Picture by Gregory Shamus/Getty Photographs
And as a lot as Scheierman loves the model of basketball Boston performs, he loves the best way the workforce carries itself much more.
“I simply actually appreciated the workforce chemistry that they’ve,” he mentioned. “All people performs a task, and they’re actually good at. It’s a workforce recreation, they usually perceive that, they usually’re all the time deflecting credit score to at least one one other, and that’s the way it ought to be. The sport of basketball is clearly a workforce recreation, and clearly, they’ve great gamers as effectively, which is why they have been in a position to win the NBA championship.
“However the workforce chemistry is one thing that actually caught out to me, and I feel that’s one thing that I can are available and in addition simply add to that as effectively. Type of simply being a connector and simply with the ability to impression the sport in any approach I can to assist them win.”
Now, with the Celtics, Scheierman is hoping to translate his all-around ability 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 recreation shines via, regardless.
Recent off a title, Boston’s rotation is pretty set. However Scheierman isn’t anxious about becoming in. The latest Celtic needs to do three issues: Win, hustle, and luxuriate in taking part in basketball.
“I’m a tough employee. I wish to work, and I wish to compete,” Scheierman mentioned. “I like to only impression the sport in any approach I can. [I] wish to impression successful, whether or not that’s diving on the ground, making threes, or blocking photographs, no matter that is likely to be. And I wish to have enjoyable whereas doing it.
“I feel basketball, clearly, is a recreation that’s meant to be loved, and so, after I’m on the market on the court docket, I identical to to have a whole lot of enjoyable and wish to compete.”
