It took one Summer League game for Boston Celtics fans to fall in love with Charles Bassey. Ideally, he'd join the team for training camp at the Auerbach Center this fall. Unfortunately, it appears his time with the franchise is unlikely to last much longer.
A day after the Celtics earned a 92-78 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in their Sin City opener, Brad Stevens met with the media. When Bassey's name came up, he first shared how the six-foot-10 center became a late addition to Boston's Summer League roster.
"Charles has played a lot of NBA minutes, obviously, over the last couple of years and like several other guys, made the decision at the last minute to participate in a practice or participate in a series of practices and then ultimately play with your team, and I thought he did a really good job yesterday," said the Celtics' president of basketball operations.
Stevens also signaled that Bassey might intend on parlaying a brief showcase with Boston into his next contract.
"I don't want to speak for him, what his goals might be, but obviously, he's a guy that's probably playing for what's next, right? And I just think he's a guy that we've paid attention to from afar for a long time. We're watching all these guys all the time, and I thought he did a really good job yesterday. He probably was the biggest reason we won the game, I thought."
Maybe Bassey ends up sticking with the Celtics. The organization could waive JD Davison to open the 15th and final roster spot for him. Another possibility is that he would take a job from someone on a depth chart featuring Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, and Xavier Tillman Sr. There's also second-round pick Amari Williams. The expectation is the latter will join Boston on a two-way deal.
However, it seems like Bassey being present at the Auerbach Center in the fall is the least likely outcome. Rather than a fifth year in the NBA, perhaps he'll take his talents overseas.
Why did Celtics fans fall in love with Bassey so quickly?
This author warns against overreacting to one Summer League game. Even how an individual fares while in Las Vegas may not translate to NBA exhibition contests, let alone the regular season.
However, Bassey is a four-year veteran. He has spent the last three seasons honing his craft with the San Antonio Spurs. The 24-year-old from Nigeria averaged 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 10.4 minutes across 36 appearances in the 2024-25 campaign.
When he stepped onto the floor at Summer League, he immediately impressed. Bassey generated 14 points on 7/8 shooting. He grabbed 11 rebounds, seven at the offensive end. He also swatted two shots.
Beyond his statistical production was an understanding of how to play. He combined that with a forceful nature. Bassey set punishing screens, was in the right spots defensively, and made an impact around the basket at both ends.
For an encore, he delivered a team-high 22 points in the Celtics' 94-81 win over the New York Knicks. His 13 rebounds tied Knicks center Ariel Hukporti for the most in the matchup. The two also had the most blocks in the contest, registering three rejections. For good measure, Bassey also swiped two steals.
It was another successful showcase. Unfortunately, it also reinforced that while plans don't always go as intended, Bassey is likely to use his time with Boston as a springboard to a contract elsewhere.