The Celtics are gearing up for their 2026-27 regular season, and one player who’s clearly caught coach Joe Mazzulla’s eye and wallet is Jordan Walsh, who just inked a three-year, $15 million extension. This isn’t just a handshake deal, either; Mazzulla has been loud and clear about the kind of impact he’s expecting from Walsh right out of the gate.
Walsh’s Defense Is Making Mazzulla Go Wild
You gotta love a coach who’s fired up about a player, and Mazzulla is absolutely buzzing about Walsh’s aggressive style. This kid’s defensive work has been straight-up impressive in preseason. Remember that 114-93 win over the Hornets? Walsh only dropped two points in 17 minutes, but he snagged three rebounds and a block. Against the 76ers, he had six points in 11 minutes, five boards, a steal, and another block. Across three games, he’s stacked up three blocks, one steal, and 10 rebounds. Mazzulla is straight-up gushing, saying Walsh “continues to be really good at the start of games. Guarding the team’s best player, getting off to a good start defensively.” He’s calling it a “huge role” they’re gonna need from him. Sounds like he’s not just a bench warmer to Mazzulla, right?
From 38th Pick to Future Key Player?
It’s a wild ride for Walsh when you look at his history. He was the 38th pick back in the 2023 NBA Draft, originally by the Kings, before the Celtics traded for his draft rights. He even got a championship ring in the 2023-24 season, which is just insane for a guy still finding his footing. His skills really seemed to pop during the 2025-26 campaign, where he averaged 5.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per game. This latest $15 million extension shows the front office believes in him, but it’s not a slam dunk for a starting spot over guys like Baylor Scheierman or Sam Hauser. Still, Mazzulla is impressed enough that he’s already thinking of Walsh in a key role. You gotta wonder if this defense-first guy can lock down a starting job.
The season is still fresh, but it’s clear Mazzulla sees something special in Jordan Walsh. What’s next for the Celtics is seeing if Walsh can fully step into that “huge role” Mazzulla’s been talking about. Keep an eye on those opening minutes, because if Mazzulla’s words are any indication, Walsh is going to be guarding the best of the best.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply