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Garza credits Boston’s coaching staff for getting the most out of the guys. It’s easy to look at him, Neemias Queta, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, and Jordan Walsh as prime examples of what it takes to stay ready so they don’t have to get ready. “We do have a lot of great coaches who understand the game at a high level and push us in the right ways and kinda put you in a good spot,” Garza said. “I think that's helped. They put us out there. “But at the end of the day, all of us are just guys who've worked hard our entire careers and wanted the chance to show it, but haven't necessarily had the opportunity to. And so, when that time comes, luck, opportunity, timing, that's a recipe for success.”
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Looking at the season, what has the journey been like with the Celtics this year, especially with so many people doubting the group? Jordan Walsh: For sure! I think that’s the whole team. Everybody thought that we were going to tank and get a high draft pick, you know? Guys came in and stepped up and played above their standards, and that’s the most incredible part of this team. Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Is there a specific song or a verse that you listen to that keeps you motivated throughout the grind of the season? Jordan Walsh: Yeah. I listen to Walter Bonds. One of my favorite speeches is the “Shark Mentality” speech that he had, and I kind of listen to it before every game. Now I’ve kind of gotten away from it, but that was definitely a speech that I immediately blended with because it would put me in a different space.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You’ve been very active in the community recently. What have you been doing to work with kids and adults who are dealing with the same diagnosis? Jordan Walsh: I mean, it’s huge. I partner with NAAF (National Alopecia Areata Foundation) to raise awareness and also try to help kids out that are younger than me—from the age that I was when I was first diagnosed. I try to help them go through it because I know it’s a tough world and I can sympathize with them; I know exactly what they’re going through. Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Have you been able to connect with other athletes or entertainers who also have Alopecia? Jordan Walsh: Yeah, there have been a couple of people. A couple of football players, and then mentors like Charlie Villanueva. He’s a good dude and we talk quite a bit. I’ll be at his house chillin’, so he’s definitely been a big mentor to me for sure.
Noa Dalzell: The Celtics updated their injury report and Jayson Tatum remains questionable. Jordan Walsh is also questionable now with an illness.
But Josh Minott hit a slump before suffering a severe ankle injury that sidelined him for five weeks. He lost playing time to Hugo González, Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman, and with Boston facing both a roster and cap crunch, the Nets squeezed them for Minott, sending no picks or players and just the minimum cash required to make a deal official ($110,000, per sources).
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Neemias Queta has started 43 games and has blossomed into a reliable center (10.0 points, 8 rebounds, 1.3 blocks per game), helping to fill the void left by the departures of bigs Porzingis, Horford and Kornet. Gonzalez, the 28th pick in the 2025 draft, has partnered with 2023 second-round pick Jordan Walsh to provide energy and effort on the wings, clearing the way for White, Brown and Pritchard to shoulder the scoring load. "They're doing a great job with player development, doing a great job on the margins," the West executive said of Boston's revamped supporting cast. "Sure, there's luck involved, but they're a really good team. They're playing with house money. I love watching them."
Removed from the Boston Celtics starting lineup for the first time since early in the season, Jordan Walsh said he needs to do more. “I think just leaving a print on the game,” Walsh said. “I feel like the other team has to feel me. The other staff has to feel me. The other organization has to feel me. Every time I’m on the court, I’ve got to constantly make it hard for everybody else to kind of survive on the other team. I feel like I hadn’t been doing that. So, I’ve gotta make sure that I am doing that.”
Zack Cox: Jordan Walsh (illness) is OUT tonight for the Celtics. He sat out the second half of Saturday’s win at Toronto.
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Reaves talked about Walsh’s potential and what he saw facing the lengthy defender. “He just plays hard as crap every single possession,” Reaves said. “You don’t take a possession off. His ability, his length, his athleticism. He’s physically gifted. Moves really well. I could see him being one of the best defenders in the league for many years to come. He made shots tonight. Good player.”
Anfernee Simons ignited the Celtics in the first half, Luka Garza shifted the momentum late and Jordan Walsh provided the finishing touches to steer the Celtics to a 111-107 road win over the Magic on Sunday. Simons poured in all 25 of his points before the break, putting on a show in his hometown. Garza contributed 16 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in 17 minutes and delivered in the clutch. Walsh canned a big-time corner 3 with 13.2 seconds remaining to extend the margin to five, and Boston held on from there.
Even seeing Tatum’s relentless effort on a daily basis, his teammates still marveled at how far he’s come in a short time. A sampling of their reactions: Xavier Tillman: "It is crazy impressive. I mean, I'm seeing this guy do like box jumps and stuff like that. And I'm like, ‘Huh!? What!?’” Jordan Walsh: "I mean, the dude's a machine. He's recovering at a crazy rate.” Josh Minott: "That's inspiring, seeing his progression. I mean, they're saying it's like unprecedented.” Derrick White: "It's been impressive. Just goes to who he is and what type of worker he is." Sam Hauser: "To see him moving like that already is pretty special. And it's just a credit to all the work he's been doing behind the scenes, when there's no cameras around. You watch the way he's working, rehabbing, it makes you want to do a little extra." Payton Pritchard: "I already expected this from Jayson, to come back like this … I just never put things past certain people, and he's one of those guys.”
Derrick White: There are guys on the team that have been giving me giving me hell about not having a technical foul. Jayson Tatum told me he doesn't respect me until I get a technical. We'll see. We'll see. Not against him, but I'm not going to go out of my way to get one. I'm going to get ejected. Q. Like Jordan Walsh? DW: Yes. I watched Jay Walsh in the summer league. I got inspired, and yeah, I think Jay Walsh was the only person to get ejected in summer league this year and so it's always great to be the only person to do something. So, congrats on that, Jay.
