Boston Celtics Guard R.J. Hunter Knows Now is His Time
Boston Celtics 2015 first-round draft pick R.J. Hunter realizes now is the time to make his mark on the team as a valuable shooter.
The second of two first-round draft selections by the Boston Celtics in 2014, guard R.J. Hunter was considered a steal. However, things haven’t panned out as predicted for Hunter in Boston so far. A lack of minutes and a log jam at the guard position leaves the second-year player fighting for a roster spot this upcoming season.
It isn’t the talent that has the product of Georgia State fighting for a role on the team, it is the amount of talent the team has at the position. With All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart, second-year guard point guard Terry Rozier, Gerald Green, swingman James Young and rookie Demetrius Jackson in the mix, Hunter will have to show Brad Stevens he is the type of shooter the team is in search of.
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During his rookie season, Hunter floated between Boston and Maine where he played or the Red Claws of the D-League. Although he didn’t get much of a chance to prove himself due to a lack of minutes, the young shooting guard did provide a spark at times, especially during the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks.
Hunter displayed a glimpse of the player he can be on the court and has used that minimal experience, along with encouraging words from Stevens and Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge as motivation to work on his game over the summer.
“I trust my game more than ever, I trust myself more than ever”~R.J. Hunter
Spending countless hours in the game along with watching tape, Hunter has placed emphasis on working on his footwork to improve on the defensive side of the court. On a team that emphasized defense, Hunter knows improved play on both sides of the court will increase his value in the league.
“Every close out I’ve had, my feet were either too spaced or I’m not ready to slide and compete,” he said at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday. “Footwork, that’s the control of your body, so it starts there. Working on that is just building my foundation.”
The defensive adjustments Hunter strives to make can only help him either more on the offensive side. Good defense seems to always find a way to compliment the offense. Bradley has seen his game elevated and Hunter is hoping or the same entering his second season. Most importantly, he trusts his game.
“I trust my game more than ever, I trust myself more than ever,” he continued. “I saw so much I can implement, given a chance. I’m really excited about that.”
Last season, Hunter played in just 36 games with the Celtics. He averaged just 8.8 minutes per game, averaged 2.7 points and shot just over 30 percent from behind the arc. As a player who came into the league with high expectations, confidence along with hard work is going to be the two keys that will bring opportunity to R.J. Hunter. What he does with that opportunity will be strictly up to him. But, at least he knows his time is now and is ready to show he be the player he is projected to be.
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