The Boston Celtics entered the season needing stability. The rotation looked different, the lineups were younger and the team had to forge a defensive identity with the Jayson Tatum on the sidelines, and the departures of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Through the first stretch of games, Boston has leaned on energy, effort and structure to stay competitive.
One of the biggest surprises in that process? The emergence of Jordan Walsh.
Now in his third year, Walsh has stepped into a larger role and is giving the Celtics something they did not have coming into the season. He is defending top scorers, competing physically and earning consistent minutes on a team that depends on effort every night. Nothing about it is dramatic or flashy — just good basketball. And that steady impact has mattered for Boston.
Celtics Rumors Grow As Walsh Steps Into a Needed Role
Walsh’s rise was not guaranteed when the season began. He spent the early weeks fighting for minutes, but inside the locker room, Jaylen Brown believed he could help right away.
“That’s what this team needs — somebody who can go out and guard the best player every single night,” Brown told Celtics CLNS. “I told him that could be him.”
Walsh has taken that message and turned it into real production.
Joe Mazzulla praised the effort – ““I thought he was great tonight…And I thought, you know, I think our defense changed [the game], but I also think he sparked the change in the game tonight.”
He has taken on assignments against James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, Paolo Banchero and others, earning praise from head coach Joe Mazzulla. “He’s becoming a guy who can guard anybody on any given night” and is embracing that responsibility.
His discipline, length and activity have made him one of Boston’s most consistent perimeter defenders. Josh Minott and Hugo Gonzalez have provided strong moments as well, but Walsh has been the steady option. He has fit naturally into starting groups, complemented Derrick White and Brown and added the physicality Boston needed.
Why Walsh’s Growth Helps Balance the Celtics Rotation
Boston has committed to defending and building structure while navigating roster changes. Without Tatum, they needed more players who could handle nightly defensive responsibility against top scorers.
Walsh has stepped naturally into that role. His work at the point of attack sets the tone, and his versatility allows him to guard multiple positions. He simplifies life for the veterans around him by staying within the team concept, and even on quieter offensive nights, his impact shows through effort and attention to detail.
His emergence also allows Brown and White to shift responsibilities more strategically. The Celtics can lean into energy lineups without sacrificing spacing or rhythm. Walsh fits the structure and gives Boston options it did not have before.
Looking Ahead for Boston
The Celtics have relied on depth and internal growth to stay competitive through a challenging start. Young players have been asked to take steps forward quickly.
Walsh has been one of the strongest examples of that progress. His game carries real purpose, and he defends without hesitation. The Celtics now have a reliable wing who handles difficult assignments and stays steady within the system.
His development does not need hype. It just needs to continue.
If it does, the Celtics may have quietly found a versatile defender who fits exactly what their structure requires.
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