Jordan Walsh is learning to do the dirty work for the Celtics
Celtics’ Jordan Walsh Embraces the ‘Dirty Work’ as Rising Contender
BOSTON – Jordan Walsh is quickly learning that in the high-stakes world of the National Basketball Association, sometimes the most valuable contributions aren’t measured in points. The 21-year-old Boston Celtics rookie is carving out a role for himself not as a flashy scorer, but as the player willing to do whatever it takes to secure a win – a role his coach, Joe Mazzulla, has affectionately dubbed the “Garbage Man.” And Walsh, far from being offended, is embracing it.
From Orlando Series to Consistent Starter
Walsh’s ascent hasn’t been immediate. Initially, the Celtics experimented with Josh Minott in a similar 3-and-D role. However, a renewed opportunity presented itself during last month’s two-game series against the Orlando Magic. Walsh seized the moment, delivering a crucial three-pointer in the November 9th victory, and hasn’t looked back. He’s now started eight consecutive games, averaging 6.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 25 minutes per game.
“Obviously starting eight consecutive games is a layer to that [confidence],” Walsh said after Sunday’s win. “Just having the guys believe in me, how the guys trust me, tell me to shoot it, tell me to guard the best player, tell me when I play great defense, I feel all those things are building confidence.”
The Defining Play: A Scramble for Possession
Sunday’s 117-115 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers provided a perfect illustration of Walsh’s value. With the Celtics clinging to a narrow 92-88 lead in the fourth quarter, a contested three-point attempt from Cleveland’s Anfernee Simons caromed off the rim. A scramble for the loose ball ensued, with Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter gaining initial possession. Instead of backing down, Walsh aggressively wrestled the ball away from Hunter, attacked the basket, and drew a foul from Donovan Mitchell. The result: two free throws and a six-point lead.
It was a play that might have gone unnoticed by casual observers, but it didn’t escape the attention of Mazzulla. “The play was taking the ball from [Hunter] and getting the foul,” Mazzulla explained with a smile. “Solely understanding what the role has to be every single night, and it’s a difficult task. But tonight, I thought you saw the best version of what he is on both ends of the floor.”
Beyond the Box Score: A Glue Guy Mentality
Mazzulla isn’t asking Walsh to be a primary scorer. He’s asking him to be a disruptor, a rebounder, a defender, and a player who consistently makes the right basketball play. Walsh understands this assignment. He’s observed veterans like Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard excel in their roles, and he’s determined to contribute in his own way.
“I feel like there’s guys like [Brown] who can go out there and get his, Payton [Pritchard] who can go out there and get his,” Walsh explained. “And within the chaos we have to have somebody picking up the pieces and trying to be the glue guy, keep everything together.”
He paused, then added with a grin, “Not the garbage man, and I was about to say it, too. I have to find a way around that, definitely not the garbage man. I have to find those pockets to affect the game. When JB and Payton are shooting those shots somebody needs to get the rebound. It’s either going to be them or it’s going to be us. Why not make it me?”
The Broader Impact: The Rise of Team Basketball
Walsh’s emergence is a microcosm of a larger trend in the NBA. While individual superstars still dominate headlines, the league is increasingly valuing players who excel in supporting roles. According to data from NBA.com, teams that consistently generate extra possessions through offensive rebounding and forced turnovers have a significantly higher win percentage. In the 2023-2024 season, teams averaging over 12 offensive rebounds per game had a win percentage 8.2% higher than those averaging under 10.
The Celtics, currently establishing themselves as a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference, are embracing this philosophy. Walsh’s willingness to embrace the “dirty work” is not just beneficial for his own development, but for the team’s overall success. His ability to consistently make winning plays, even if they don’t show up prominently in the box score, is precisely what separates good teams from championship contenders.
As Walsh continues to refine his game and master the art of impacting the game in multiple ways, he’s poised to become an increasingly valuable asset for the Celtics. And while he may jokingly reject the “Garbage Man” label, he’s clearly demonstrating that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.
ARTICOL ORIGINAL:
Perhaps “The Garbage Man” is not flattering to the 21-year-old Walsh, but it is indeed a compliment because he has flourished the past few weeks doing the dirty work for a Celtics team that is establishing itself as a contender in the Eastern Conference. He notched his first career double-double in Sunday’s 117-115 win over the Cavaliers, including a rugged play that not only got the Celtics two free throws, but impressed demanding coach Joe Mazzulla.
With the Celtics clinging to a 92-88 fourth-quarter lead after leading by as many as 21, Anfernee Simons fired an elbow 3-pointer that caromed to Cleveland’s De’Andre Hunter, who grabbed the ball in front of a pursuing Walsh. Instead of relenting, Walsh seized an opening and wrestled the ball from Hunter, then attacked the rim, forcing Donovan Mitchell to foul to prevent an easy layup.
An empty possession turned into two free throws and a 6-point lead. It was a play that may have been overlooked by casual fans but noticed by those in the locker room, thus the “Garbage Man” moniker.
“The play was taking the ball from [Hunter] and getting the foul,” Mazzulla said with a smile. “Solely understanding what the role has to be every single night, and it’s a difficult task. But tonight, I thought you saw the best version of what he is on both ends of the floor. And he can be that every night, and he’s learning that, but that’s the Jordan that we need. If we want to get to a different level this year, he’s got to keep working. But tonight is a perfect example of him at his best, just on both ends of the floor. But I thought the play for him that was different was it wasn’t a jump ball. He just took it from him and got back to the free throw line.”
In eight games as a starter, Walsh is averaging 6.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 25 minutes. The Celtics first used Josh Minott to fill that 3-and-D role, but Mazzulla decided to give Walsh another shot during last month’s two-game series with Orlando and he delivered a critical 3-pointer in the Nov. 9 win.
Mazzulla is not asking Walsh to score. He’s asking him to do everything.
There were times Sunday when the Cavaliers did not guard Walsh in the halfcourt offense because they didn’t view him as a threat, but he began back-cutting for layups when the defense focused on Jaylen Brown. Walsh also is asked to defend the opposing team’s best player, grab key rebounds, and display hustle and grit.
“Obviously starting eight consecutive games is a layer to that [confidence],” Walsh said. “Just having the guys believe in me, how the guys trust me, tell me to shoot it, tell me to guard the best player, tell me when I play great defense, I feel all those things are building confidence.”
When asked about the Hunter steal, the baby-faced Walsh smiled.
“Yeah, I stole that,” he said. “I low key seen the ball and I went for a jump ball. I kind of held on to it for a second and they didn’t call a jump ball. And as a matter of fact, let me just get that [ball] . . . it crazy how it happened.”
Walsh’s next task is mastering the art of making the winning play, whatever that is. The steal from Hunter was a prime example of what Mazzulla seeks from Walsh — to gain extra possessions or a defensive stop, or shift the defense when he becomes an offensive threat. It’s a process because Walsh is less than four years removed from high school.
“I feel like there’s guys like [Brown] who can go out there and get his, Payton [Pritchard] who can go out there and get his,” Walsh said. “And within the chaos we have to have somebody picking up the pieces and trying to be the glue guy, keep everything together.”
Walsh then paused.
“Not the garbage man, and I was about to say it, too. I have to find a way around that, definitely not the garbage man. I have to find those pockets to affect the game. When JB and Payton are shooting those shots somebody needs to get the rebound. It’s either going to be them or it’s going to be us.
“Why not make it me?”
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.