Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Jordan Walsh Aims to Follow in Marcus Smart's Footsteps, Calls Defense 'My Personality'
On Sunday, the Boston Celtics picked up a 131-91 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. During the game, Jordan Walsh scored his first career points in the NBA.
Throughout his three regular season games, Walsh accumulated two points, two assists, and six assists over 15 minutes. The 19-year-old rookie is averaging 15.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game as a member of the Maine Celtics, Boston’s G-League affiliate team.
The 40-point blow-out served as Marcus Smart’s return to the TD Garden. Per Inside The Celtics, Walsh cited Smart’s time in Boston as an inspiration.
“It definitely inspires you because the Celtics fans know that basketball is more than just getting 30 a night. It’s about the hustle plays, it’s about diving on the floor. Even like his clips that were on the Jumbotron, like most of them were him diving on the floor and blocking shots. I feel like for that to be the highlight of what he was while he was here and the fans know that and love that about him, I feel like that speaks a lot to the tradition and the culture of the Celtics.”
Smart won the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year award and is a three-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection. Similar to Smart, Walsh described defense as "my personality.”
After Sunday's victory vs. the Grizzlies, Walsh's head coach, Joe Mazzulla, praised the rookie for his development on that end of the floor.
"I think what stood out is just his growth as a player and understanding the most important thing is defense and I loved his defensive positioning and his defensive physicality and his instincts."
Boston's next game is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 7, against the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden; tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. EST.
Further Reading
Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans
Jayson Tatum Shares What Went Through His Mind Seeing Celtics Fans Celebrate Marcus Smart
Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'
Celtics Finding Joy in Basketball and Each Other's Company: 'We've Been Blessed'
Fixated on Winning, Jayson Tatum Again Proves He's Not 'Bored Making the Right Play Over and Over'
Brad Stevens Shares What Celtics Are Looking to Add and How He Hopes to Do So
Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'
Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'
Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'
