Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Jordan Walsh Let's Celtics Fan Know What He Brings to the Table: 'A Guy Who Wants to Do Whatever It Takes to Win'
"I've fallen in love with Boston, and I haven't even been here for 24 hours," expressed an enthusiastic Jordan Walsh Monday at the "Live, Learn, and Play" renovation at the Cambridge Community Center.
After the draft, Celtics' president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said of what Walsh brings on defense, "He has a special ability laterally and with his (seven-foot-two) wingspan to swallow people up defensively."
And in a conversation with WBZ's Dan Roche, Walsh's head coach at Arkansas, Eric Musselman, labeled him a "violent defender."
So, naturally, in his first chance to meet with the local media, the former Razorback's defensive prowess was a subject that came up multiple times.
"I'm one of those guys who's gonna defend the one through four relentlessly," voiced Walsh. "I'm gonna do whatever it takes to get that stop; that's gonna give us an advantage on the other team. And that's what my game is (built) around. That's the foundation for my game."
When asked how much pride the 19-year-old takes in what he provides on that end of the floor, he made it clear he understands defense is his ticket to a chance to contribute to Boston's championship pursuit as a rookie.
"Tremendous pride. Cause that's what's gonna get me on the floor now. And that's what my game is, that's the foundation of my game, and that's what everything else stems out of. So to be able to harp on that, that's not something like scoring the ball, be able to harp on defense, which is just energy and effort, I feel like that's real important."
Walsh also let Bostonians know who it is their team drafted with the 38th pick while showing he gets the fan base he's about to play for.
"A guy who harps on defense, who plays super hard, who's tough, who's gonna be consistent in that aspect of the game. Who's gonna do the simple things that help winning, that maybe other people may overlook, like diving on the floor.
"I heard that Boston likes people who dive on the floor more than people who dunk the ball; that guy's gonna be me. I'll still do a little dunking, but that guy will be me. And I'm just a guy who wants to do whatever it takes to win."
Further Reading
Jordan Walsh Discusses Getting Drafted by Celtics, His Welcome to Boston
Celtics' Summer League Roster Taking Shape
Jordan Walsh Already Improving on Main Weakness, a Potential Ceiling-Changing Development
Brad Stevens Shares What Compelled Celtics to Trade for Kristaps Porzingis
Brad Stevens Discusses Difficult Decision to Trade Marcus Smart: 'He'll Always Have Boston'
Scouting Report on Celtics' Second-Round Pick Jordan Walsh
The Details about Future 2nd-Round Picks Celtics Acquired at the Draft
After Trading Marcus Smart, Acquiring Kristaps Porzingis, Where Do Celtics Go from Here?
Marcus Smart Felt "Shock" and "Hurt" Over Trade from Boston Celtics
The Latest on Malcolm Brogdon's Forearm Strain
Grant Williams Not Expected Back If Celtics Acquire Kristaps Porzingis
