The Boston Celtics have long been one of the teams in the NBA that makes the most of its G League squad, with a number of current and former Celtics having spent considerable time playing for the Maine Celtics/ Red Claws. From players who joined the roster as two way players to guys who end up in Portland after a solid-but-not-transformative training camp showing, quite a few players in the league can say playing time in Maine helped jump-start their career.
Among them is Boston sharpshooter Sam Hauser, who spoke about his own experience with the Maine Celtics, and how he sees the path into the NBA. “I think they put the time in to invest in you, and as long as you reciprocate their investment, and you put in the work every day, they’re going to give you a chance, and you just have to take advantage of it,” he explained via CLNS Media.
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“We have a few guys who have shown that you can work your way up, and the G League is not a bad thing by any means,” added Hauser.
Nov 12, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward (23) drives between Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7), forward Sam Hauser (30) and center Luka Garza (52) during the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
“Honestly, it’s a great thing to go down there,” he added. “Get game reps, game speed, game reads and all that — and then just wait in your turn.”
That last bit — waiting your turn — was especially relevant for Hauser, who had a long wait for playing time on a team built to contend for titles even before he joined it. “Everybody who first gets in the league doesn’t always get to play right away, unless you’re in a different situation where maybe a team’s not trying to win right now.”
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Sam Hauser is a believer in the G League as a path to the NBA