Celtics need Baylor Scheierman make obvious leap - but he's already doing it

LAS VEGAS — It was a slow burn for Baylor Scheierman last season. The first few months of the season saw him firmly glued to the bench. But a pair of games in mid-March changed that story. Scheierman enjoyed a 15-point game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 8 before a much-needed 20-point game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 16.

Now, with Jayson Tatum sidelined for most of next season and the Boston Celtics’ roster in a state of flux, he could have more opportunities than ever. Off the ball, his movement shooting helped him stay relevant on a star-studded Boston squad, but they may need his creation now more than ever.

And it starts at Summer League.

“He can do pretty much everything,” said Celtics Summer League head coach Matt Reynolds. “As you said, he's got a lot of experience off the ball, whether it be spacing, ready to shoot, second action, just kind of keeping the flow going, but we also want him to initiate. And so, he's a smart player, and I think that's the main thing.”

Baylor Scheierman, the creator, is ready to break out for Celtics

Scheierman employs a variety of pump-, pass-, and ball-fakes to highlight his offensive arsenal, constantly keeping players off-balance and uncertain of his next move.

Oftentimes, this allows him to drive close-outs at the three-point line and keep help defenders on their toes. He creates two-on-ones to get easy buckets for himself at the rim or clear dump-off passes to bigs waiting in the dunker spot.

But he’s also working to add new shots to his arsenal, like high-arcing layups to get over the outstretched arms of bigs deep in the paint. Assistant coach and head of player development Craig Luschcenat has been working with him to perfect the shot.

“It was Craig and myself, honestly,” Scheierman said when asked whose idea it was to learn the shot. “Obviously, the NBA is the best athletes in the world, best basketball players in the world, and in order to finish around the rim, you have to have those kind of touch shots. And that's just one of them. Like you said, we work on all the time. And I know, probably in live speed, everyone's like, 'What the hell is he shooting?' But we really do work on that.”

Crafty finishing around the rim isn’t the only flair Scheierman has in his game. He also likes to add a touch of spice to the way he plays.

Watch Baylor Scheierman break down more of his game here:

Whether this is breaking out the goggles after a wild pass, screaming at the crowd after a big-time three, or blowing a kiss to the 76ers bench after nailing a three-pointer, Scheierman isn’t afraid to let his personality shine through.

And when he gets the chance to do his best Rajon Rondo impression, he will.

“I mean, growing up, like, when I was seven or eight, watching Rondo play for the Celtics, honestly, and that was his move,” Scheierman said. “And I did it growing up all the time in middle school and high school.”

In the Celtics’ huge win over the Phoenix Suns, Scheierman copied one of Rondo’s classic moves, leaving Mason Plumlee in no-mans-land to find Neemias Queta for a layup in the paint.

“Here, you got a two-on-one, kind of freeze the big defender for a second, and then, if he would have went with him, then I could have laid it in,” Scheierman explained. “But then he stayed with me, so I got to lay the ball off.”

Alongside Hugo Gonzalez, Max Shulga, and Isaiah Wong, Scheierman is one of only a few ball-handlers the Celtics have at Summer League. And of those, Scheierman is the only one with experience playing within the Celtics organization.

Gonzalez and Shulga were just selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, and Wong is with the team on a Summer League deal. That leaves Scheierman as one of the team’s vets.

And there couldn’t be a better place for Scheierman’s growth to continue as he prepares for a world of opportunities next season.

“He's done a great job of making sure our team is kind of coming along, especially the guys that are trying to learn new concepts and their terms,” Reynolds said. “And so, that leadership role kind of naturally ends up here. You're gonna have the ball in your hands, kind of dictating the offense and getting guys where they need to be, but he's up for the task.”