Baylor Scheierman is able to be a Celtic: ‘It was an honor that they felt assured sufficient to select me’

With the thirtieth choose within the 2024 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics chosen Creighton wing Baylor Scheierman. However earlier than he was a Blue Jay, he was a South Dakota State Jackrabbit.

And earlier than Boston labored him out forward of the 2024 NBA Draft, they introduced him in two years in the past.

“The primary time coming by way of, clearly, was a few years in the past,” Scheierman stated throughout his introductory press convention with the Celtics. “They actually favored my sport. Simply my skill to form of impression the sport in numerous methods, whether or not that be capturing, passing, dribbling, or simply my IQ. And so they felt like I may get slightly stronger, slightly faster, slightly extra explosive a few years in the past.

“That’s form of what I attempted to enhance on these final two years at Creighton, and I really feel like I did that, which form of put me within the place to be the place I’m proper now.”

After understanding with the Celtics earlier than the 2022 NBA Draft, Scheierman received again within the lab. He transferred to Creighton in hopes of constant his improvement, and that’s precisely what occurred.

Scheierman’s numbers improved annually with the Jackrabbits, and whereas they took a dip in his first season with the Bule Jays, they jumped proper again up. In his fifth and remaining collegiate season, Scheierman put up one of the best numbers of his faculty profession.

He averaged 18.5 factors, 9.0 rebounds, and three.9 assists whereas capturing 44.8% from the sphere and 38.1% from behind the three-point line.

Photograph by Mitchell Layton/Getty Photographs

Using his earlier pre-draft course of as a springboard, Scheierman took full benefit of his time at Creighton to place himself into the place he’s in right this moment.

“I believe it form of simply opened up my eyes, that my first time understanding, form of simply what I wanted to enhance on, and form of what the NBA sport was form of all about,” Scheierman stated.

“After which clearly, these final two years at Creighton form of simply actually engaged on that, and the flexibility to return on this 12 months and form of simply show that I’ve grown as a participant and as an individual, and I believe that basically helped me, clearly, all through this course of and ending up getting chosen.”

On draft evening, with 29 picks gone, Scheierman was nonetheless ready to listen to his title. And with the NBA Draft’s new two-day format in impact, he was one choice away from having to deliver his family and friends again to a second day of anticipation.

That’s when he received the decision.

“I used to be very anxious coming in the direction of the tip of the primary spherical,” Scheierman stated. “And clearly, [I] received the cellphone name there whereas the Celtics had been on the clock. And as quickly as I received the cellphone name, I used to be tremendous excited.

“Clearly, being picked by this group that simply got here off an NBA championship, a corporation that, clearly, doesn’t simply choose anyone to return into their workforce, it was an honor that they felt assured sufficient to select me and felt like I may are available in and simply impression the workforce in any method I can and attempt to assist them simply proceed this tradition that they have already got set.”

As soon as the Celtics made their choose, Scheierman heard from his new teammates. Brad Stevens, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, and Joe Mazulla all reached out to the rookie to welcome him to Boston.

“Final evening, Brad reached out to me,” Scheierman stated. “And clearly, I talked to him my first time working on the market, after which clearly this previous time working on the market as nicely. Had a few of the guys attain out. Jayson and Al reached out, and Coach Mazzulla as nicely. And that meant rather a lot to me.

“I’m clearly actually excited to get there and meet everyone and my new teammates and actually simply attempt to be a sponge and be taught from everyone and attempt to consumption as a lot info as I can that may assist me develop as a participant within the NBA.”

Photograph by Gregory Shamus/Getty Photographs

And as a lot as Scheierman loves the model of basketball Boston performs, he loves the best way the workforce carries itself much more.

“I simply actually favored the workforce chemistry that they’ve,” he stated. “All people performs a job, and they’re actually good at. It’s a workforce sport, and so they perceive that, and so they’re all the time deflecting credit score to at least one one other, and that’s the way it needs to be. The sport of basketball is clearly a workforce sport, and clearly, they’ve large gamers as nicely, which is why they had been capable of win the NBA championship.

“However the workforce chemistry is one thing that basically caught out to me, and I believe that’s one thing that I can are available in and likewise simply add to that as nicely. Sort of simply being a connector and simply with the ability to impression the sport in any method I can to assist them win.”

Now, with the Celtics, Scheierman is hoping to translate his all-around ability set into an impactful profession. He’s the one NCAA Division I basketball participant ever with 2,000 factors, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists, and 300 three-pointers. Clearly, 5 years of faculty ball helps these stats, however his well-rounded sport shines by way of, regardless.

Recent off a title, Boston’s rotation is pretty set. However Scheierman isn’t anxious about becoming in. The most recent Celtic needs to do three issues: Win, hustle, and revel in taking part in basketball.

“I’m a tough employee. I prefer to work, and I prefer to compete,” Scheierman stated. “I like to simply impression the sport in any method I can. [I] prefer to impression successful, whether or not that’s diving on the ground, making threes, or blocking photographs, no matter that is perhaps. And I prefer to have enjoyable whereas doing it.

“I believe basketball, clearly, is a sport that’s meant to be loved, and so, after I’m on the market on the court docket, I similar to to have plenty of enjoyable and prefer to compete.”