Boston Celtics: Player of the Week — Daniel Theis

Over the last few years Daniel Theis has proven to be one of the better find-and-signs for the Boston Celtics.

At 6-8, 245 pounds, the Boston Celtics were very intrigued by the versatile German big-man of Daniel Theis.

Prior to the German product entering the NBA and joining the Boston Celtics in 2017, he was already a four-time All Star and earned three German League Championships. The dude is simply a winner.

As many German born players do, Theis was part of his country’s youth league and eventually rose to join the highest level of professional basketball in Germany and joined Basketball Bundesliga.

Theis would average 9.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game for Brose Bamberg, while impressively shooting 41 percent of his 3-point attempts and 64.5 percent of his two-point shot attempts.

I previously mentioned his German League All Star appearances and league championships, but also throughout his journey in the German League, Theis would become the Best Young Player (2014), All German League Second-Team (2016), and Defensive Player of the Year (2017).

It’s worth mentioning Theis was part of the 2014 NBA Summer League with the Washington Wizards, but would end up back in Germany. He would also go on to join a couple different teams and even became teammates with one day NBA players like Dennis Schroeder and Brad Wanamaker.

Now with the Boston Celtics, Theis has proven to be one of the most versatile and physical big men the Celtics have. He plays an important role and is heavily relied on to shut down the opposing team’s big men.

His defensive motor is never ending. He is a phenomenal defender and gets beat up on a nightly basis, but he’s strong enough to still be standing tall by the end of the game. Theis is able to space the floor for the Celtics, as well as making his presence felt by his teammates.

https://twitter.com/baseline_hoops/status/1218002221968908288

To really appreciate the services of Theis on the Boston Celtics, you can’t just glance at the stat sheet, you need to watch what he’s able to do while he’s on the floor. He’s a team first player and it’s been beneficial for the Celtics.

The way he maneuvers around the court is impressive, to say the least. Theis brings a unique European style to the NBA with the way he does his work in and around the paint.

Theis has a really nice move that will get called for a foul from time-to-time. Whether it’s off a pick-and-roll or not, he reads the play and essentially sets a “screen” by boxing-out an opponent to give the ball handler an open lane to the hoop.

Since he’s been with the Boston Celtics, the big man is shooting 54 percent from the field and 33 percent from behind the arc for his career. This season Theis is averaging 7.6 points, 6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game.

Theis and the Celtics agreed on a 2-year, $10 million contract over the summer to keep him in Boston. In consideration to all of his accolades, at 27 years old, Theis could arguably be the most accomplished basketball player on the Boston Celtics roster.

As fans, we don’t really get to see what happens too much “behind the scenes” during a game and especially at half time. During yesterday’s blowout win over the Lakers, Daniel Theis had a little visitor on his way to the locker room.

https://twitter.com/celtics/status/1219438616826515457

As cool as it is to see our favorite players dominate on the court, it’s also nice to see the person they are beyond just being an athlete.