Al Horford Satisfied By The Performances Of Boston Celtics Young Forward In The Team

Jordan Walsh, a rookie with the Boston Celtics, is already attempting to gain his teammates’ confidence in the weeks leading up to the 2023–24 season.

The Celtics anticipated Walsh’s biggest asset—defense—translating from Arkansas to Boston when he was taken 38th overall in the second round of the NBA Draft this summer. The C’s urgently needed defense.

Walsh has the ideal chance to become a big name in Boston with a dubious reserve unit charged with supporting a star-studded core, and so far, so good for the 19-year-old.

“I just think Jordan is a great kid,” Al Horford said, according to Souichi Terada of MassLive. “He’s really trying to understand how to be a pro. He’s about the right things already. He’s about winning, he’s about caring for the team, doing what he has to do with us. With that attitude, it’s going to take him a long way. It’s been great to watch him, his work ethic, his commitment, he’s one of the first ones here in the building.”

Evidently, Walsh has checked off both of the necessary boxes in that the potential and mentality are there. Then there is the on-court performance, a glimpse of which Walsh offered during Summer League games in Las Vegas.

Walsh shot 42.2% from the field and 40.7% from 3-point range, averaging a team-high 16 points and 4.2 rebounds.

“A big focus right now is getting stronger. So I can be able to guard bigger, stronger guys, obviously,” Walsh said during Celtics media day. “But also just being able to shoot the ball and make open shots, especially wide open. Being able to open up the floor for guys like (Jayson) Tatum and (Jaylen) Brown.”

Walsh, like numerous other Boston teammates, is in a good position to succeed if everything works out.