Jordan Walsh isn’t holding back, even with his team piling up wins. The 22-year-old Celtics wing admitted he’s “underwhelmed” with his own impact on the team this season, calling his early performance “just okay.” That’s a bold statement from a guy playing on a winning squad, but it shows the kind of fire Walsh has.
The Numbers Tell Part of the Story, But Not All
Walsh’s self-assessment comes as the Celtics are rolling, including a 107-103 victory over the Knicks in their home opener back on October 23rd. But dig into Walsh’s individual output, and you can see why he might be a little frustrated. He’s averaging 4.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in 15.4 minutes per game, numbers slightly lower than last season. His shooting splits aren’t exactly setting the world on fire either, hitting 38.2% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc. And yeah, it’s early, so it’s a small sample size, but he’s also got the second-worst plus-minus on the team, with the Celtics getting outscored by 10 points when he’s on the court. Mitchell Robinson has the worst total plus-minus, if you’re keeping track.
But Walsh is quick to point out that his value isn’t always in the box score. “For me, it’s more about the defensive impact,” he said, emphasizing how his work negating screens or preventing star players from getting the ball doesn’t show up in the stats. He’s been tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best players, which is a huge role. It’s the kind of gritty work that championship teams need, even if it doesn’t get the highlight reels.
Minutes Trending Down, Impact Needs a Boost
The playing time has seen some shifts early on. Walsh started the first five games of the season, but he’s moved to the bench for the last three. He’s still playing double-digit minutes every night, but his minutes have been trending downwards since October 27th, not playing more than 12 minutes since then. This comes as Hugo Gonzalez has slotted into the starting lineup. Walsh played 18 or more minutes in three of the Celtics’ first four games, so that’s a noticeable change.
He’s not sweating the starting role, though. “That’s just kind of like Joe’s thing, like he wants to try new things. Like, that’s fine,” Walsh noted. What he *is* focused on is making those minutes count, regardless of when they happen. “I’m still playing the same amount of minutes. So, I still gotta produce in those minutes. Like, I gotta do that better.” His goal is clear: a marked improvement in his defensive impact. It’s the kind of self-awareness and drive you love to see in a young player, especially when the team is winning. He knows where his bread is buttered, and he’s ready to prove his value on that end of the floor.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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