Just some weeks after signing a four-year, $45 million contract extension, Sam Hauser donned a white Maine Celtics T-shirt at a meet-and-greet on the North Shore Mall.
“It simply jogs my memory sort of the place it began right here in Boston,” Hauser mentioned, gesturing at his shirt with a smile. “Or — I assume extra in Maine.”
It wasn’t too way back that Hauser was an undrafted free agent making an attempt to determine how you can make it within the NBA. He signed a two-way take care of the Maine Celtics in 2021, hoping that that will function the start of an NBA profession.
For sure, that turned out simply nice.
Three years later, Hauser hit 11 three-pointers in 5 NBA Finals video games en path to the Celtics’ 18th championship, rising out of a quick postseason hunch to shoot a scorching-hot 47.8% from three towards the Mavericks.
Simply two months faraway from that storybook end — on a quiet Wednesday night on the Dynasty Sports activities in Peabody — Hauser bought one other alternative to soak all of it in.
Followers lined as much as get their memorabilia signed by the championship crew’s prime sharpshooter, bringing with them a slew of things, together with a miniature Larry O’Brien trophy and a 2024 championship banner.
“How a couple of nineteenth banner, Sam?” mentioned one man in head-to-toe Celtics gear.
“Thanks for the championship,” mentioned one other, eagerly shaking Hauser’s hand.
That kind of reverence and appreciation from Boston followers hasn’t gotten previous.
“Actually, I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it,” Hauser mentioned. “It’s sort of loopy, to be trustworthy, fairly surreal. Simply making an attempt to be grateful, simply profit from it — clearly, you don’t know when alternatives like this are ever going to come back round once more.”
It’s actually been an thrilling couple of months for Sam Hauser. He loved a storybook ending to his breakout 2024 season, and signed a contract extension with the Celtics just some weeks after the parade.
The long-term deal to maintain him in Boston was removed from a certain factor within the eyes of the general public — Hauser may have grow to be a free agent subsequent summer season, and with the Celtics payroll quickly growing, it wasn’t clear that he would
Final month in Las Vegas, Celtics assistant coach D.J. MacLeay bought emotional when requested about Hauser’s extension, saying it stuffed him with “immense pleasure.”
Sam Hauser mentioned he it was cool to have the ability to signal with Boston long-term and that he appears to be like ahead to competing for one more championship subsequent yr:
“Fairly particular that they gave me a possibility when nobody else did, and I simply tried to run with it. They believed in me.” pic.twitter.com/EEq628ukvX
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) August 14, 2024
Hauser smiled when requested about that second, noting that he noticed the video on Twitter.
“It’s actually cool,” he mentioned. “I simply performed for the love of the sport, and that is typically simply the good thing about that. Fairly particular that they gave me a possibility early on when no one else did, and I simply tried to run with it. They believed in me, and I’m simply glad I could possibly be right here and be with this crew and have one other likelihood to win all of it.”
Hauser’s removed from the one Celtic who bought their large payday this summer season. Jayson Tatum signed his 5-year, $314 million supermax extension, whereas Derrick White signed a four-year, $126 million contract extension. Neemias Queta, Luke Kornet, and Xavier Tillman all signed minimal offers to return to Boston, and two-way gamers JD Davison and Drew Peterson signed to new two-ways as nicely. The one member from final yr’s group that signed with one other crew is Svi Mykhailiuk, who not too long ago signed a 4-year, $15 million contract with the Jazz.
“It’s fairly loopy that we have been in a position to convey everybody again,” Hauser mentioned. “All people needed to be again and needed to strive to do that once more. I’m glad the entrance workplace was in a position to make it work.”
Now, the crew’s consideration turns to subsequent season. Hauser mentioned that about 75% of followers on the meet-and-greet requested him concerning the pursuit of a championship in 2025.
“I believe all people’s fairly proud of how all people is staying in Boston,” Hauser mentioned. “We are able to compete once more collectively for one more yr. Clearly, now we have lots to construct off of. It’ll be enjoyable.”
