Jordan Walsh’s 2025-26 season is the gift that keeps on giving for the Boston Celtics. Walsh, a third-year forward out of Arkansas, has seen his first real opportunity with the team over the past month or so.
He’s capitalized on it tremendously.
Walsh rode the high of his career night against the Washington Wizards into Friday’s matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers and hit the ground running. He sank a wide-open triple to score Boston’s first points of the night, and kept building from there.
Jordan Walsh is becoming a Celtics staple
What’s been fascinating about Walsh’s emergence is that he never forces anything. He just waits patiently until he’s given the opportunity to score, and makes the most of it. The 2023 second-round pick did just that as the game went on.
Early in the fourth quarter, Walsh sank his fourth three of the night on just five attempts to push Boston’s lead back to 18. As he continues to earn more minutes, he looks increasingly comfortable shooting the ball -- a welcome sight for Celtics fans.
Even when he gets the chance to put the ball on the floor, it’s not a given that he’s going to put a shot up.
Midway through the second quarter, Walsh drove from the corner, looking like he was about the sky over the Lakers' defense for a loud dunk. Once he saw the help defense commit to him, he dropped a nice pass off to Neemias Queta. The big man wasn’t able to convert, but Walsh’s decision-making impressed nonetheless.
He’s done this a few times over the past week. For someone who doesn’t have a ton of NBA experience, the 21-year-old looks pretty comfortable making quick reads on the drive.
Jordan Walsh hasn't come off the staple of his game -- defense
Then, of course, there’s the reason for his increased role. His defense.
On Friday, he took on the assignment of guarding Austin Reaves, who has put together some impressive outings through the first month of the season. Walsh had Reaves in shambles through the first half of this one. The young Celtics wing was picking up the Lakers guard as soon as he crossed half-court, making him work for everything he got, which wasn’t all that much.
He shot just 2-7 in the first half for 12 points, thanks to eight made free throws.
Reaves eventually got going in the second half by taking advantage of the non-Walsh minutes. He was very much “as advertised.”
So was Walsh, though. All of us Celtics media folk have spent the last several games gassing him up for good reason. With this win over the Lakers, Boston moved to 9-2 since inserting No. 27 into the starting lineup.
Walsh’s 17 points, four rebounds, two blocks, and a steal rounded out yet another impressive outing for the Celtics’ newest rotation staple.
He’s shown a clear understanding of how to impact winning at a high level, and continues to get better with experience.