It’s no secret that the 2025-26 NBA season has been one that Celtics fans are not accustomed to. Currently sitting at a 6-7 record and 11th in the Eastern Conference, the days of Boston being hailed as early-season favorites to bring home the Larry O’Brien trophy are, temporarily, over.
For the Celtics faithful, finding a silver lining in a team that has been producing mediocre results is key. Let that silver lining be Jordan Walsh.
A November to Remember
The season kicked off for Walsh very similarly to his previous two years on the squad: deep into the bench, playing a minute or two a game. By the end of October, the former consensus five-star prospect had appeared in just three of Boston’s six played games.
The start of November would prove to be different. Starting on the first of the month against the Rockets, Walsh logged 18 minutes and contributed 10 points, tying his career-high.
He would follow that with 24 minutes played against the Wizards and 19 minutes played against Orlando. Then came November 9th. In a road game that went down to the wire, Walsh splashed a dagger corner three to put the Celtics up 110-105, with a little over 12 seconds remaining. By far the most meaningful shot of his career, the 2022 second-round pick also tallied 26 minutes, a then-career best.
This would not stand for long. In his very next game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Walsh played 29 minutes, a new personal record. He also poured in eight points and seven boards, but his most significant impact came on the defensive end of the ball.
While guarding the MVP-caliber guard Tyrese Maxey, Walsh held the Sixers’ star to just 1-9 from the field, including a clutch stop late-game. Despite Boston falling just short of getting a win, Walsh also forced Philly to shoot 5-17 from the floor when he was the primary defender.
Earning the Praise of His Squad
Walsh’s effort and play have not gone unnoticed by his teammates and coaches. Boston’s sharpshooter, Sam Hauser, made sure to give his teammate his flowers.
“Credit to him to put the work in…He waited his turn, and now he’s taking full advantage of it. It’s been great to see,” Hauser told the media.
Of course, it’s essential to make sure that Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is happy, too.
“He’s (Walsh) turned it on and he’s had that sense of urgency as if he’s playing like his basketball life is on the line…he’s done a great job of just doing it. He’s gotta keep it up,” said Mazzulla.
https://twitter.com/NoaDalzell/status/1987709272633807060?s=20
When commenting on his increased minutes, Walsh deflected any praise, instead giving credit to his team.
“I think it says a lot for the trust that the organization has in me…It builds confidence. I feel like every possession, every play, and every timeout, it’s like they’re talking to me, I’m talking to them, and we’re just building more and more chemistry. And I think that in the long run, it’s going to be successful that way,” Walsh said after the Sixers’ game on Tuesday.
https://twitter.com/NoaDalzell/status/1988468824300224988?s=20
Questions for the Future
While Celtics fans mustn’t read too much into Walsh’s six-game sample size of impressive play, fans and pundits alike are right to wonder how this impacts Walsh’s future.
Will he be a frequent starter to come? Will the Celtics pick up his contract after this season? Walsh is entering the third year of his rookie contract, which includes a team option for the 2026-27 season.
As of now, the only answer for Bostonians is to wait and see. Will Walsh continue to boast a net rating of +23.6, good for second in the entire NBA and above Nikola Jokic? Most likely no. Will he continue to make his impact felt and permanently become a part of the rotation? Only time will tell.
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