Jordan Walsh only logged 10 minutes and six seconds of playing time against the Miami Heat at Summer League on Monday. His night ended early due to just Walsh's second ejection.
The six-foot-six forward shoved Heat guard Erik Stevenson after making a layup while getting fouled by the latter. Seven seconds later, Walsh pushed Pelle Larsson, sending him careening into a group that included the Boston Celtics' next owner, Bill Chisholm, and their president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens.
There to witness it was Joe Mazzulla. He texted Walsh after it happened. And when the now third-year wing returned to the court after Boston's 100-96 loss to Miami to apologize to Stevens, his head coach greeted him enthusiastically.
"He told me he loved it," shared Walsh post-game. "As soon as I got ejected and I got to the locker room, I checked my phone, and he was texting me, he was like, 'I love this out of you.' So, take that for what it is, but Joe was hyped."
“He told me he loved it.”
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) July 15, 2025
Joe Mazzulla texted Jordan Walsh after his ejection and went over to him after the game when Walsh returned. Walsh’s head coach seemed to appreciate seeing him hold his ground. https://t.co/GfBaxSAf5U pic.twitter.com/EuvDRYTyuT
Jordan Walsh shares what he told Brad Stevens about his ejection
Walsh getting tossed was a rare display. His returning to apologize to Stevens was more in line with his character.
After doing so, when he met with the media, he revealed what he had told the team's president of basketball operations.
"For one, I had to go and make sure everybody was ok because I caused that," conveyed Walsh. "But I just wanted to apologize to him, just because that's not really me. I'm more of a professional than that, more mature than that. So I just wanted to make sure that he knew that this wasn't going to be a continuous thing."
The former Arizona Razorback also explained the root of what prompted his off-brand behavior.
“I don’t ever want to get pushed around," declared Walsh. "I feel like this whole summer, I was getting hit and people was doing all types of stuff."
At Summer League, the play has been physical, with the officials letting a lot go. That can cause frustrations to rise, as they did on Monday at the Cox Pavilion.
"I was kind of letting it slide," said Walsh. "But at the same time, I should have known better than to take it to that next level. I feel like I knew better. But for sure, I don’t want to be a pushover. I don't want to just let somebody roll over me.”
Much to the delight of Joe Mazzulla, he sent that message loud and clear.