Jan. 31, 2026, 3:15 p.m. ET
Baylor Scheierman may not have seen the floor all that much earlier in the 2025-26 NBA regular season, but he is an increasingly common presence on the court for the Boston Celtics in recent weeks. The Creighton alum has even been getting some starts to help Boston manage absences of key rotation players to injury in recent weeks, earning the trust of Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. “He’s developed into a utility guy for us defensively, where he can defend different matchups (…),” shared Mazzulla after Boston’s 112-93 win vs. the Sacramento Kings on Friday (Jan. 31).
“He’s made some plays. He draws some legal screens for us, but he can make defensive plays. He knows how to play versus cross matches at the other end, and he’s been making some shots and offensive rebounds.”
“So, I’m pleased with where he’s grown defensively for us,” continued the Celtics coach.
“I think I’ve tried to make the most of every opportunity that I’ve gotten, and with that comes more trust,” offered Scheierman after the game. “I’m just out there trying to impact the game in whatever way necessary.”
As for that defensive growth, the Celtics wing said “I think some of it is just a natural feel. I think some of it is just watching film and watching tendencies of players and what they like to do in terms of faking the handoff, going or staying with them or not. But, I think some of it just comes down the field and just reading the eyes of the ball.”
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