Boston Celtics: Frontrunners to win each of the 2021-22 NBA awards
By Nick Swanson
Most likely Boston Celtics Rookie of the Year: Sam Hauser
Coming into the offseason, it looked like the Celtics were potentially going to have Israeli draft and stash point guard and 2020 second round pick, Yam Madar. However, after the free agency acquisitions the Celtics made, Madar decided to stay overseas for the time being, signing with KK Partizan NIS in Serbia.
Now, there is only one rookie on the C’s roster: Sam Hauser.
Hauser went undrafted in 2021 and signed a two-way contract with the Maine Celtics. He may be young but already has a decorated career beginning when he was in high school. Hauser is a Wisconsin state champion, Gatorade Player of the Year and a co-Mr. Basketball winner. He began his collegiate career with the Marquette Golden Eagles and played there from 2016-2019.
He was named Big East Freshman of the Week early on in his freshman season and then made the second team All-Big East in his final year. After his time at Marquette, Hauser transferred to the University of Virginia following their NCAA Championship run. He was named First-team All-ACC in his lone year with the Cavaliers before declaring for the NBA Draft.
The rookie appeared in the five Summer League games for the Boston Celtics in August, totaling nine points, 4.8 rebounds and two assists per game while shooting 50% from the field and 46.2% from beyond the arc.
Since Hauser is on a two-way contract, he’ll be spending a majority of his time in the G-League. He probably won’t be seeing enough real NBA minutes with the Celtics to be even close to sniffing the Rookie of the Year award but he’s the only one who has a chance. Barring a serious injury or a consistent injury plagued season like in 2020, Hauser won’t have much of an impact on the team.