Evaluating JD Davison’s Summer League with the Boston Celtics

As the Boston Celtics continue retooling their roster before training camp begins, there are some players from their Summer League squad who had standout performances.

Of the bunch, today we at the Houdini look at JD Davison.

The C’s picked the youngster with the 53rd overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft. In his only season at the University of Alabama, the 6-3 guard averaged 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and a steal per game.

Showing he had plenty to prove, Davison spent the first weeks of July with Boston’s Summer League squad in Las Vegas, Nevada. During his time there, the rookie performed well above expectations when it comes to what he can potentially bring to the table, as the C’s signed him to a two-way contract for the 2022-23 season as a result of his efforts.

Davison appeared in all five games for the Boston Celtics, averaging 13 points, 8.2 assists (a Summer League record for the club), and 4.8 rebounds on 43.4 percent shooting from the field and 50 percent shooting from deep.

He also showcased his skills on the defensive side of the court, swipping 1.2 steals and swatting 1.2 shots per game.

The matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies is where Davison shined the brightest, as he dropped a double-double of 28 points and 10 assists while getting five rebounds, three steals, and a block on 9-of-14 shooting.

His aggressiveness in getting to the paint and finding teammates proved too much for the Grizzlies to handle, as they had no answer for his dominance.

However, it took a while for Davison to get into a rhythm after the first three games, especially after their second match against the Milwaukee Bucks. He had five points, six assists, and three rebounds but shot a rather putrid 1-of-5 from the field and turned the ball over five times.

Besides making the effort to reduce his turnovers (averaged three a game during Summer League), Davison should continue to work on his jumper. While it’s good that he’s careful with his shot selection, having the confidence to keep trying the shots he takes consistently will do wonders to his offensive playstyle as he refines his ability to drive the lane.

Being on a two-way contract is the perfect situation for Davison. With the newly bolstered depth at the guard position for the Boston Celtics, he will be spending most of his time in the G-League with the Maine Red Claws during year one.

This will allow him to develop at a steady pace while making the adjustments needed to improve his 3-point shooting and offensive game as a whole.

If all goes well, his potential is in good hands with the C’s.