One word keeps following Chris Cenac Jr. everywhere he goes:
Versatility.
It was the first trait Cenac said he would bring to the Boston Celtics after they selected him 27th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Since then, the word has surfaced repeatedly. Cenac pointed to versatility as the quality he admires most about Jayson Tatum’s game (H/T @JustinmTurpin). During Boston’s Summer League game against the Hornets, ESPN’s Taylor McGregor reported that, growing up with Pelicans season tickets, Cenac studied Anthony Davis’ versatility.
At just 19 years old, Cenac remains a long-term project for a championship contender. Still, his early Summer League performance showed why his versatility gives him a strong foundation for impactful minutes with the Celtics.
Chris Cenac Jr.’s Versatiliity Stood Out in Summer League
Boston’s belief in Cenac’s versatility showed in his first Summer League minutes.
Cenac entered the game off the bench, replacing starting center Amari Williams. When Williams checked back in, the Celtics slid him to power forward. Boston would go on to utilize Cenac at the four in several double-big lineups throughout Summer League.
That immediate trust from Celtics Summer League coach Amille Jefferson shows how Boston views Cenac’s positional versatility.
Cenac finished Summer League averaging 10.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game while recording two double-doubles in four games.
Rebounding is his most NBA-ready skill, which makes sense given that it was one of his top responsibilities during his freshman season at the University of Houston. In his lone year at college, Cenac led the Cougars in rebounding and ranked third in Division I for defensive rebounding percentage (26.1%, per CBB Analytics).
Shot-blocking and three-point shooting are the two other skills that popped the most. Cenac’s shooting efficiency is still a work in progress, but his comfort level outside of the paint offensively brings a different element from what Boston’s current centers Neemias Queta, Mitchell Robinson, and Luka Garza offer.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said after last season that the team wants to diversify its attack. Cenac has already shown signs of bringing a different dimension to the roster.
Cenac Has the Size and Length to Thrive in NBA
Cenac also possesses the physical profile NBA teams look for in modern centers.
He measured 6-foot-10 without shoes with a 7-foot-5 wingspan at the NBA Draft Combine. Those tools that immediately translated to his rebounding and rim protection in Las Vegas.
Cenac’s weight will be something to watch moving forward. 240 pounds is not a bad starting point, and the Celtics will likely try to build strength with him by putting on some extra weight to help him anchor the NBA paint. That said, his strength is not shabby either. He got to the free-throw line several times by way of getting fouled on dunk attempts.
His conditioning also looked strong. It was an encouraging sign considering he was not asked to run the floor frequently at Houston.
Some players can light up the Summer League but struggle to translate that impact against NBA-level physicality. Cenac has the athletic baseline to build off of, so that shouldn’t be a major hurdle.
Kelvin Sampson Believes in Cenac’s Potential
Cenac’s skills and size give him the tools to succeed in the NBA. The early outlook on his coachability adds another layer to why he fits Boston’s vision.
Cenac was the sixth-ranked prospect coming out of high school. ESPN gave him a 96 recruitment grade — which is the highest of any Celtics draft pick since Jayson Tatum.
His decision to spend his lone college season under Kelvin Sampson also speaks to his willingness to embrace coaching. Houston is known as one of college basketball’s most demanding programs, and Sampson made it clear Cenac understood exactly what he was signing up for.
“He came in here knowing he was going to be challenged like he was never challenged in his life,” Sampson said during a recent interview (H/T @PawdSlamaJama).
Sampson, who has historically relied on upperclassmen, said developing a top one-and-done prospect was a challenge for him, too. He had to get Cenac acclimated to the next level while having him play out of position.
By the end, Sampson came out thrilled with Cenac’s season and his long-term upside. He was happy to share that excitement with Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens.
“When I had conversations with Brad, I was very honest with him… Chris is not a finished product. His best basketball is ahead of him. But he was my favorite player to coach on this team because he came in every day with the right attitude. He never, ever didn’t give great effort.”
Cenac said that Mazzulla will “definitely” be a Hall of Fame coach during his post-Draft interview. The statement suggests Cenac feels confident in the organization that drafted him.
Cenac’s Competitive Mindset Could Accelerate His Development
Beyond his physical tools, Cenac’s competitiveness may ultimately determine how quickly he earns NBA minutes. His confidence has already shown up in several ways during his first month with the organization.
Cenac said he feels he fell too low in the draft and is looking to prove people wrong about that.
He tried multiple times to take defenders’ heads off with some vicious poster attempts. He’s gotten fouled more often than not, but he did get one on 7-foot-5 Jamarion Sharp.
Cenac feels he has something to prove on the defensive end as well. Houston’s scheme rarely asked Cenac to chase blocks because JoJo Tugler filled that role. Instead, he was responsible for securing rebounds and finishing possessions.
Boston immediately emphasized rim protection, and Cenac responded by recording 11 blocks in four Summer League games after totaling just 18 across 37 college games.
“That’s something that they’ve been preaching to me since I’ve gotten here that I need to do,” Cenac told reporters (H/T @SleeperCeltics). “I’m a player that’s gonna do whatever the organization needs me to do, so that’s something I’m emphasizing.”
Obviously, that shot-blocking will have to be proven at the NBA level. Still, it’s an early example of Cenac setting a goal and reaching instant results.
Cenac’s Versatility Gives Him a Path to Early Playing Time
Boston’s frontcourt rotation will be difficult to crack as a late first-round pick. The Celtics invested in two centers this offseason by signing Neemias Queta to a contract extension and Mitchell Robinson in free agency, while Luka Garza remains in the mix as a reserve center.
Still, Cenac brings a different skill set than Boston’s other big men. Unlike Queta and Robinson, he is comfortable operating away from the basket on both ends. Garza can stretch the floor offensively, but he doesn’t possess the same defensive mobility to consistently play alongside another traditional center.
That combination of offensive versatility, rebounding, and rim protection gives him the potential to complement another traditional big rather than simply back one up.
Cenac may spend much of his rookie season developing between Boston and Maine, and he won’t enter training camp expected to crack the regular rotation. But Summer League offered an early glimpse of the player the Celtics envision: a floor-spacing, paint-protecting big whose versatility allows him to play multiple frontcourt roles.
Versatility has been the word attached to Cenac ever since draft night. It was the first quality he said he would bring to Boston, and through four Summer League games, he gave an early glimpse of why the Celtics believe it can eventually make him a unique piece of their frontcourt rotation.
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