The Boston Celtics’ 2025–26 season is all about finding out who can be trusted as they ramp back up toward championship contention once Jayson Tatum is fully healthy.
The departures of several key rotation players have created uncertainty around the supporting cast for Tatum and Jaylen Brown. However, it also provides opportunities for unproven players to earn their place.
After spending the first two weeks of the season on the bench, Jordan Walsh has emerged as a prime candidate to seize an impactful role. He's played the best basketball of his professional career over the past week and is offering a glimpse of untapped potential that could make him a much-needed complementary piece.
A Breakout Week to Remember
Walsh first carved out meaningful minutes during Boston’s blowout win over the Washington Wizards on Nov. 5. Head coach Joe Mazzulla turned to him early in the game to jolt a sluggish effort. At that point, the Celtics trailed the one-win Wizards. Walsh delivered.
In his first few minutes, he snagged rebounds, forced a steal, and finished a transition dunk that energized the team. He finished with seven points, seven rebounds, two steals, and a +27 on/off differential in 24 minutes, earning Mazzulla’s postgame praise.
"I thought he was great on both ends of the floor,” Mazzulla said (h/t @SleeperCeltics). "His presence defensively, his rebounding, his positioning... I think our defense changed it, but I also think he sparked the change in the game."
That performance opened the door, and Walsh has carried that momentum through the next few games.
In the week that followed, he hit a dagger 3-pointer against the Orlando Magic on Nov. 9. He then delivered his most disciplined defensive showing yet against the Philadelphia 76ers two nights later. Assigned to Tyrese Maxey in the second half, Walsh held the 76ers’ star guard to just four points on 1-of-9 shooting over 26 possessions as the primary defender, per NBA tracking data (h/t @ChrisForsberg_).
Across four consecutive games in which he’s played at least 18 minutes, Walsh has averaged 5.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. Boston is +51 with him on the floor during that span—a reflection of how much his energy and defensive activity have lifted the team.
Finding His Rhythm
Before last week, Walsh had seen zero minutes in four of Boston’s first eight games—casting doubt upon his future with the team. While an abdominal injury in preseason may have contributed, he was still active, but just didn’t play.
With more confidence in his role, Walsh is now playing with poise. His defensive energy has always been there, but he’s showing a new level of discipline. He’s staying in front of opponents, avoiding unnecessary fouls, and contesting shots effectively.
He displayed that against Maxey and the 76ers. He held opponents to just 29.4% shooting as the closest defender, 14.3% percentage points lower than their expected average, according to NBA tracking data. Over the past four games, opponents have shot 9.1% worse than usual when he’s the closest defender.
Offensively, he’s not asked to do much, but he’s coming through big in the area that they’re hoping for: 3-point shooting. He’s shooting 50% (6-12) on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, up from 27.5% on the same type of attempts last season.
While the sample sizes are still small for both figures, they're a clear sign of progress.
Potential Coming to Life
When the Celtics drafted Jordan Walsh 38th overall in 2023, they knew he was a project. A former five-star recruit at Arkansas, his length and athleticism made him a tantalizing prospect, even if there was still much to refine.
After two quiet years spent developing his shot and defensive discipline, that potential is finally translating to real NBA impact.
Impact on the Rotation
With so many questions about the Celtics’ current roster—and uncertainty about the long-term roles for many players—playing time across the board may be volatile. Josh Minott burst onto the scene early in the season, earning a spot in the starting lineup thanks to high-energy performances similar to what Walsh is showing now. So perhaps it won’t take much for Walsh to surpass Minott on the depth chart.
While many Celtics fans are concerned about who should start, the important thing is that the two of them don’t have to be mutually exclusive. They’ve shared the floor for 50 possessions this season, and the combination has been a terror defensively. Boston has forced turnovers at a 22.9% rate with them both on the court—in the 100th percentile among all qualified lineups, per Cleaning the Glass.
Adding Sam Hauser into the mix makes things even more fluid, creating a crowded wing rotation. But the Celtics now have multiple versatile options that allow them to experiment with different lineups and combinations—something they’ve lacked for much of Jayson Tatum’s tenure.
Ultimately, when Tatum returns to full health, he will anchor the starting lineup. For now, the team is discovering what works with each player and how they fit into Boston’s long-term plan.
Walsh’s Moment
Looking back at his scouting report, RotoWire wrote: “His elite athleticism and length give him the potential to be a top-tier defender in the NBA. Being one of the younger prospects in the draft, it will likely take time for him to see consistent minutes and be a high-level contributor.”
After a couple of years developing within the system, Walsh is finally emerging.
With his newfound confidence, defensive discipline, and ability to hit shots when needed, he’s showing that he can live up to the potential that made him such an intriguing prospect—and could carve out a meaningful long-term role in the Celtics’ rotation.