Celtics ‘invest in’ Alabama guard JD Davison
After the NBA Draft on Thursday evening, Brad Stevens experienced a lot to say about the Boston Celtics’ variety of Alabama guard JD Davison in the next spherical. Following all, the Celtics’ president of basketball operations did not have any other gamers to converse about.
With the San Antonio Spurs possessing Boston’s 2022 first-spherical decide on, Davison made up the entire draft class for the Celtics, whose season experienced finished just one week earlier with a Sport 6 loss to the Golden Point out Warriors in the NBA Finals.
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“Tonight was about getting any individual that we could commit in,” Stevens claimed, “that we could put a whole lot of time into, that we could aid improve in their youthful occupation and, ideally, assist them — aid JD in distinct — but whoever we picked in that spot get better and seriously start off their profession off on the proper foot with an financial commitment of the workers and the firm for the prolonged time period.”
When Davison joined Boston as the 53rd selection on Thursday night, only five options remained in the 2022 NBA Draft. But Stevens claimed the Celtics didn’t settle for Davison.
“We used a ton of time scouting him in particular person this 12 months,” Stevens mentioned. “I went to a follow in October and viewed him observe at Alabama. We saw numerous online games are living as a staff, so we’re pretty nicely-versed in who he is and what he brings to the table and also what he’s received to function on. But the most vital thing ideal now is: How do we enable him transition easily?”
In his only time at Alabama, the 6-foot-3 guard averaged 8.5 points, 4.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1. steals per video game. Stevens noticed a lot to like in Davison’s game, but the Celtics aren’t counting on him to lead correct absent for a staff that came in two victories of the NBA championship in the 2021-22 season.
“Very young, really explosive. That’s very clear,” Stevens said. “Has the skill to get within the paint and make performs. Has some items he’ll have to strengthen on, but has a ton of bodily instruments. A excellent competitor. And, definitely, I imagine played in a definitely good application for genuinely very good coaches, so we’re on the lookout ahead to acquiring him up to Boston. …
“All you have to do is switch on a few of minutes of clips and you can see the upside, so now it’s about earning so he receives accustomed to the NBA recreation. Barring just about anything insane below, he’s not going have a ton of force to come in and effect us appropriate absent or go the needle for us appropriate away. He’ll be equipped to compete for minutes just like every person else, but at the exact time he can grow, create and emphasis his focus on improving upon, and I feel that is a actually vital area to be for a youthful player. We’ve got a truly superior group, but he’ll be able to place some heat on us with his velocity on both finishes of the ground.”
Davis starred at the Calhoun Faculty in Letohatchee, leading the Tigers to the AHSAA Class 2A championship video game in his final two seasons and sinking a 3-pointer at the buzzer to earn the state title in 2020. He gained Alabama’s Mr. Basketball Honor in 2020 and 2021.
“He’s 12 months eliminated from higher school graduation,” Stevens claimed, “so he’s played one 12 months of college or university basketball at a very substantial stage on a excellent group with men that were there that have been superior playmakers in their have right. He experienced some incredible online games, and he had some game titles wherever he looked like a freshman. But he also has regularly competed and carried himself perfectly on the court docket. …
“There are factors he’s bought to increase as any 19-12 months-old would, but we’re wanting forward to supporting him do that. Which is our process.”
Davison will get to perform rapidly with the Celtics. Boston will tip off its timetable in the NBA 2K23 Summer season League in Las Vegas at 4:30 p.m. CDT July 9, when it will enjoy the Miami Warmth on NBA Tv.
“Can’t hold out to get him to Summertime League follow and get him heading,” Stevens stated.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
