One of Jordan Walsh’s offseason goals was to become, in his words, “a way better offensive player” — the type of scorer Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla could trust in critical moments.
That work was evident in Boston’s preseason opener on Thursday. Walsh scored 16 points in a 124-113 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers while showcasing a noticeably deeper array of offensive moves.
But the fourth-year wing also committed five fouls in 25 minutes and was a team-worst minus-13. Two days later, one of his veteran teammates said Walsh shouldn’t lose sight of his No. 1 skill: defense.
“I think he’s getting better and better (offensively),” guard Payton Pritchard said at morning shootaround before Saturday’s preseason matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden. “But his calling card is going to be defense, and that should be — he should be one of the best defenders in the league, if not the best.
“So that’s the standard we should hold him to, and that’ll be the main thing. And then offensively, he’ll continue to work and get better and better, but (defense), that’s what makes him a star.”
The Celtics leaned on Walsh’s defensive abilities early last season, matching him up against a slew of All-Stars (Tyrese Maxey, Jaren Jackson Jr., James Harden, Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards, Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson). After a December win over the Lakers, Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves said he “could see (Walsh) being one of the best defenders in the league for many years to come.”
Among all NBA wings, Walsh ranked in the 89th percentile in block percentage and the 74th percentile in steal percentage last season, per Cleaning the Glass. Offensively, he massively improved his 3-point shooting percentage (38.4%, up from 27.3% in 2024-25), which helped him earn a regular rotation role for the first time in his career.
Walsh’s playing time fluctuated in the second half of the season, however. In the playoffs, he saw action in all seven games against Philadelphia but averaged just 12.7 minutes per appearance, logging a mere five minutes in Boston’s Game 7 loss.
“(I want to be) a threat at all points in the game,” Walsh said in July. “I feel like there was a lot of times in the season last year where it would become clutch moments where we needed a bucket, and I would have to get subbed out. I talked to my (player development) coach and said when those moments come, I want to always be the best option. I want to be the best choice.”
Asked how the 22-year-old should balance his desire to improve offensively with his defensive responsibilities, Pritchard replied: “I don’t think it’s a balance.”
“I think what this team needs from him is to be the best defender possible, and that’s what will make us successful,” he said. “So offensively, when he gets open shots or areas to attack and be aggressive, take advantage of them, but defensively is what we need to be great at.”
Carter ‘no surprise’ to Scheierman
After squaring off against Devin Carter several times in the Big East, Baylor Scheierman wasn’t surprised by the Celtics guard’s promising preseason debut.
Carter, who is playing on an Exhibit-10 tryout contract after being traded by Sacramento and waived by Atlanta, tallied 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals against the Cavs.
The former Providence College star went 5-for-9 from the field and 6-for-6 from the foul line, finishing as a plus-22 despite his five second-half turnovers.
“Obviously, what he did the other night is kind of what he does,” said Scheierman, a Creighton product. “He’s great defensively, especially on-ball, being able to blow up actions and just compete on that end. And offensively, just knowing his strengths and being able to play to that. So it’s no surprise to me what Devin can do.”
Carter was the 13th overall pick in 2024, 17 spots ahead of Scheierman. Entering Saturday, he looked like the favorite to land Boston’s one open two-way contract spot, which would give the 24-year-old a chance to revive his career while splitting time between the Celtics and their G League affiliate in Maine.