Joe Mazzulla on Celtics rookie Jordan Walsh’s first bucket for Boston

justin quinn

Mon, Feb 5, 2024, 3:05 AM·2 min read

It might have taken him a bit longer than he probably expected, but Boston Celtics rookie forward Jordan Walsh finally scored his first points at the NBA level with the Celtics. Looking much more comfortable and in control, Walsh exploded to the basket for an emphatic dunk to put the first two points of his career in the Association on the board.

Speaking to the media postgame, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla weighed in on the Arkansas alum finally scoring in a Boston uniform. “Even before that, what stood out was his growth as a player, and understanding of the most important thing is defense” offered Mazzulla of Walsh’s flush against the Memphis Grizzlies.

“I loved his defensive position and defensive physicality, and his instincts,” continued Mazzulla. “I think that’s gotten a lot better since the beginning of the year.”

Celtics drop Grizzlies 131-91 as Marcus Smart makes first return to Boston https://t.co/LvyHFJWSic pic.twitter.com/nqzbcnzeSK
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) February 5, 2024

“I think that’s a challenge for any young player,” said the Celtics coach. “Really buying into the fact that, regardless of what you think you are offensively, or how it went in college, you’ve got to play defense to learn defense.”

“He’s done a great job of that — and then it’s fun, he got his first two points in the Garden (and …) he continued to play the right way.”

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