The Maine Celtics signed NBA veteran Tosan Evbuomwan. That news will put a smile on Amari Williams's face. The former is a mentor to his fellow United Kingdom native.
At Summer League, Williams shared with this author that Evbuomwan was with the former Kentucky Wildcats standout when the Celtics drafted him. He was also in Las Vegas, suiting up for the Brooklyn Nets. That allowed him to keep an eye on how the seven-foot center was performing. He would check in, offering advice to Williams and the other British players who were in Sin City.
Evbuomwan also delivered a pointed message to Williams:
"Go out there and be aggressive," relayed the latter at Summer League. "A lot of the games, I came out timid, but I learned as the game went on, I [have] got to be aggressive and trying to go get it myself sometimes."
Get familiar with Tosan Evbuomwan
The former Princeton star was on a two-way deal with the New York Knicks before joining the Maine Celtics. He appeared in five games with his former franchise before they waived him last week.
Before that, the six-foot-eight wing was with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2024-25 campaign. He has played in 50 NBA tilts over three seasons. During that time, he has registered career averages of 7.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 20.8 minutes of floor time. He is a 33.0 percent shooter on 2.2 attempts per contest.
The 24-year-old from Newcastle played in 12 games for the Westchester Knicks this season. During those appearances, he produced 17.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per matchup. Evbuomwan is joining his fifth G League team over three seasons.
To make room for him, the Celtics' G League affiliate waived Rahsool Diggins. The rookie averaged 4.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 11.6 minutes across nine games while with Maine.
Evbuomwan will have to wait to share the floor with Williams. His mentee is currently with the parent club on their four-game road trip. The Celtics' rookie has impressed while with Boston and the organization's G League affiliate.
In six games with the former, he has played well enough to earn the most minutes of any of the team's traditional options at center during a win over the Detroit Pistons a day before Thanksgiving. He also had enough trust from Joe Mazzulla to be in at the end of a road victory vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers. The rookie earned praise from his head coach for not fouling Evan Mobley on the hosts' final possession.
Having Evbuomwan, his mentor, join the organization is sure to help with the rookie's already impressive growth.