Jordan Walsh leaned on Jaylen Brown, Xavier Tillman when minutes fluctuated

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics thrived on having a deep, interchangeable bench throughout the 2025-26 season. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla will throw in guys who haven't played in days in a key moment to see how they handle it or simply because his team needs a different approach. But what's it actually like being one of those moving parts? Celtics wing Jordan Walsh knows, as the 22-year-old had his playing time fluctuate throughout the regular season. He went from a first-time starter in November averaging over 24 minutes per game back to a reserve in February who averaged 14 minutes a night off the bench. Prior to a Saturday morning practice at the Auerbach Center, Walsh admitted that being a member of the "Stay Ready Group" isn't always easy.

Jordan Walsh spoke candidly about the ups and downs of playing time, and how he worked through it with Jaylen Brown & former Celtic Xavier Tillman:

“It’s so hard one day have your name going crazy and everywhere, and everybody's talking about it and how good you're doing, and… pic.twitter.com/jMG9rBdl3z

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) April 18, 2026 "It's kind of tough," he said at the podium. "The thing a lot of people don't really know about the NBA, or don't really pay attention to, is navigating those highs and lows. It's so hard, one day, to have your name going crazy and everywhere, and everybody's talking about it and how good you're doing, and the next day, it'd be silent and have nothing, and you're just on the bench." Walsh has still made incredible progress since the Celtics selected him in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft. He averaged career-highs across the board this season and entered 68 games. In comparison, he only played in 61 regular-season contests combined in his two previous years in the league. Although his playing time was never exactly uniform, Walsh averaged a career-high 17.8 minutes per game in his third year in the green and white. And with the help of Celtics star Jaylen Brown and former Celtics big man Xavier Tillman Sr., Walsh never let the ebb and flow of the season impact his play. "I think it's hard to navigate those times because you've been so high up," Walsh said candidly. "You're used to being there for so long and then coming back down. So for me, I kind of navigated (it) by talking with JB, talking with X(avier), and guys like that and the (coaching) staff." Jaylen Brown on Jordan Walsh's increased confidence:

"It's been great. I don't want to boost his head up too much. I don't want him to start getting cute. He has to still take care of the details. But he's been doing a good job. We're going to need him to maintain that."