It’s no secret that Jordan Walsh’s Summer season 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 recreation ever once more,” Walsh mentioned with a dissatisfied smile after a tough first recreation in Las Vegas. Although his last recreation of Summer season League was his finest, Walsh was candid about how issues went as a complete.
“I really feel like I performed fairly unhealthy… I positively anticipated extra from myself, for positive,” Walsh instructed CelticsBlog in July after capturing 29.1% from the sector throughout 5 video games within the desert.
However, he bounced again with a stable preseason exhibiting wherein he averaged 9 factors on 45.5% FG. And, although the stats undeniably appeared higher, it was the opposite extra intangible issues — his tempo, defensive vitality, and instincts — that stood out most.
At apply Friday, Walsh mirrored on his poor Summer season League efficiency.
“I used to be listening to suggestions from household, the crew, everyone,” Walsh mentioned. “It was form of like, ‘okay, yeah. I perceive how I performed was unacceptable to me.’ So, transitioning from that to a development mindset — making an attempt to turn into a extra full participant, a extra beneath management participant.”
Jordan Walsh says he was listening to suggestions from household and the crew about his Summer season League:
“How I performed was unacceptable to me.”
Says he needed to turn into a extra full and beneath 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 instructed me, ‘each 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 fitting determination and see the court docket clearly, 99% of the time.’” Walsh mentioned.
Final week, Joe Mazzulla mentioned 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 mentioned. “Simply actually happy with his development.”
Joe Mazzulla actually likes what he’s seen out of Jordan Walsh in preseason:
“He’s doing an awesome job — simply actually happy with his development.”
“He’s beginning to carve out a job and simply exhibiting a very good angle in direction of it. So, it has been enjoyable to look at 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 mentioned. “That comes with form of getting extra recreation 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 only a few months in the past, it appeared that Walsh was destined to spend many of the yr 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 mentioned. “He’s beginning to carve out a job and simply exhibiting a very good angle in direction of it. So, it’s been enjoyable to look at 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 mentioned. “I in all probability received’t know till the primary recreation, however I’m hoping for the most effective, and I can work till I get there.”
Changing into a constant three-point shooter is a significant level of emphasis, as was prioritizing the defensive finish and specializing in the small print. If he can flip into the kind of defender scouts initially projected him to be, he may 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 mentioned. “I’m making an attempt to show that to everybody else, but additionally to show it to myself.”
The suggestions from the teaching workers has been constructive.
“For probably the most half, they have been simply saying I performed my position very well,” Walsh mentioned. “They suppose I’ve matured much more than I used to be final yr at this level. Even from Summer season League to now, I performed approach higher.”
Nonetheless, an improved preseason exhibiting doesn’t imply that Jordan Walsh is glad. He is aware of he’s simply originally of what he hopes can be an extended NBA profession.
“I really feel like I’ve gotta work on all the pieces, truthfully,” Walsh mentioned. “I really feel like there’s nonetheless a number of incomplete issues in my recreation… there’s nonetheless a number of work to be carried out.”
