Examining the emergence of Boston Celtics sharpshooter Sam Hauser
Sam Hauser’s move to Virginia changed the trajectory of his basketball career.
In the demanding conference that is the Atlantic Coast Conference, Hauser finished seventh in the conference in scoring at 16 points per game while leading the ACC in three-point percentage with an astounding 41.7% conversion rate from beyond the arc. Hauser helped lead the Virginia Cavaliers to a regular season conference title before getting bounced in the first round of the NCAA tournament by the No. 13 seeded Ohio Bobcats of the Mid-American Conference.
Sam Hauser has played 30+ minutes 7 times this season and has averaged 17.6 points and 4.7 3PM in those games. All were double-digit scoring efforts, including three 20-point games. pic.twitter.com/p3iaG7b6Mq
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) April 8, 2023
Hauser declared for the NBA draft, and received much less attention compared to his teammate Trey Murphy III. Many organizations around the NBA were apprehensive about the Wisconsin native, as 60 players were selected before the Boston Celtics gave Hauser a call, eventually offering him a two-way contract.
Boston, who cut Max Strus, and were seeking a consistent shooter to make up a spot in the rotation saw the potential that Hauser had. Under Jarell Christian, and Alex Barlow in Portland, Maine, the former All-ACC first team player showed that he belonged on the NBA-level.
He does not try to be someone who he is not. Hauser knows who he is, and Bennett and Barlow both saw that in him. His constant movement in the halfcourt offense during his first campaign in the G-League made the coaches in Boston along with Stevens pay even more attention to what he was producing. He was someone that worked for open shots, and in an NBA game that is so reliant on the three-point shot, that is paramount.
Known by many in Maine as one of the most coachable players, Hauser converted his two-way contract into a full-time professional one in mid-February as Boston began to pick up steam for what became a deep postseason run. Hauser would play in 33 contests for the Cs in the regular season and playoffs. While he struggled at times, especially on the defensive end of the floor, his shot impressed during the time he earned an opportunity on an NBA court.