An ode to the ‘other guys’

On a team full of stars, these Celtics role players quietly elevated Boston to another historic season.

For every team of historic superstars, there is a group of understated talent leading the charge off the bench — and it’s no different for the Celtics. While the headliners like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown deservingly earn the spotlight in the national media, many lose sight of the key contributions from the rotation and bench players.

In fact, those players are often the pieces that push teams from good to historic. Over the years, we’ve seen star-studded rosters crumble without the stable foundation of reliable role players — look no further than the Phoenix Suns this season.

With the final chapter of the Celtics’ regular season wrapping up last week, there’s no better time to give these guys their flowers. As the stars took some well-deserved rest during the final stretch, the rotation players stepped into the spotlight. Some may dismiss standout performances from bench players in late-season games as “meaningless,” but I see them as a culmination of consistent, season-long impact.

Today, I’m highlighting a couple of those unsung heroes — because they deserve just as much credit for another historic Celtics season. Unfortunately, I can’t shout everyone out, but here are some of my favorite contributors from beyond the starting lineup.

Payton Pritchard

Every conversation about phenomenal bench production for the Celtics starts and ends with Payton Pritchard.

Pritchard, a virtual lock for the Sixth Man of the Year award, has been nothing short of outstanding. After earning a reputation last year for clutch buzzer-beaters, he’s taken another leap this season, evolving into one of the league’s premier role players.

With an expanded role — playing roughly six more minutes per game — Pritchard has flourished. He’s averaged 14.3 points and 3.5 assists per game, all while shooting an elite 40.7% from three. His ability to initiate offense, stretch the floor with the deep ball, and bring an instant spark has made him irreplaceable. When Boston’s stars hit the bench, opponents can’t relax, because Pritch is coming right at them.

Payton also cemented himself into the record books this season. This season, he broke the record for three-pointers made off the bench in a single season in NBA history, and led all NBA reserves in points scored and fields goals made. He also notched the second most three-pointers in a single season in Celtics history this season.

He could easily be a starting point guard for most teams in the league. Yet, rather than demanding a trade like many might in today’s NBA, he’s embraced his role as the sixth-man assassin, lifting Boston to another level. His selflessness, skill, and consistency have made him an irreplaceable piece of this historic run.

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Luke Kornet

Luke Kornet’s averages — 6.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game — won’t blow you away. But his true value lies well beyond the box score.

Before diving into the advanced stats that show Kornet’s real impact, consider what his teammates and coaches have said. Head coach Joe Mazzulla kept it simple, per usual:

“He has a high basketball IQ, and he can play different offenses, different lineups, different coverages.”

Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard, and others have all said Kornet doesn’t get enough credit for always making the right play and being a reliable force. He’s built a lethal pick-and-roll tandem with Tatum that is grounded in chemistry and trust:

“It’s been one of the more successful things for our team this year, just me and Luke on the floor together, and being in actions together,” Tatum said.

With Tatum’s massive playmaking leap this season, it’s time to start recognizing Luke Kornet for his massive contributions in that development.

He’s also been a reliable safety net. With Kristaps Porziņģis missing time and Al Horford not logging as many minutes, Kornet has stepped up in a big way — excelling in his 16 starts and maintaining rock-solid consistency when he is the second or third option.

The advanced numbers are resounding. Kornet ranks fourth in the entire NBA in net rating, with Boston outscoring opponents by 14.9 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor. He leads the team in net rating differential, meaning the Celtics are 7.7 points better per 100 possessions with him playing — doubling the second best tally on the Celtics (Al Horford).

He also finished 16th in ESPN’s Net Points metric, a stat designed to quantify a player’s impact on a team’s point differential. He ranked one spot ahead of LeBron James and is in the company of elite bigs like Rudy Gobert and Evan Mobley.

By nearly every advanced metric, Luke Kornet is one of the most impactful players in the NBA, and he is coming off the bench for the Celtics. While Luke continues to fly under the radar, Boston is lucky to have him quietly impacting every area of the game.

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Sam Hauser

With so much success from the aforementioned bench duo of Pritchard and Kornet, Sam Hauser has started to fade from the spotlight a bit. But make no mistake — he deserves just as much praise.

Sam Hauser is currently 14th all-time in NBA history in career three-point shooting percentage. Yes, you read that right. With a career average of 42% from beyond the arc, he’s one of the most efficient long-range shooters the league has ever seen. And despite this season being labeled his “worst” in terms of shooting percentages, that context is misleading— Hauser still shot 41.6% from three on 5.6 attempts per game.

When your worst shooting season involves nearly 42% efficiency from deep, that says everything you need to know. Even more impressive? Hauser battled through a nagging back injury that seemed to linger throughout the season, making his consistency even more admirable.

In a season where the Celtics shot and made more threes than any other team in league history, it’s players like Sam Hauser that make it possible. His ability to roam the perimeter, get open off-ball, and cash in consistently is an absolute necessity for Mazulla-ball.

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The Stay Ready Group and Maine Celtics

While some of the deep bench and two-way guys can only make their mark in short bursts, they’re still valuable cogs in the Celtics’ winning machine. So let’s show them some appreciation. These guys were my favorites:

Torrey Craig: The Celtics picked up Torrey Craig on the buyout market earlier this season, and while his minutes have been limited, his impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Every time he steps on the floor, he brings a jolt of energy — especially on the defensive end. His hustle plays speak volumes about why he’s lasted eight seasons in the league. Craig is exactly the kind of seasoned veteran that championship teams lean in the locker room.

JD Davidson: Last, and certainly not least, is JD Davidson. Davidson recently won the G-League MVP after another winning season in Maine, and was rewarded with a roster spot and contract with Boston. He’s been quietly dominant at that level for a while now, not just with his play but with his leadership. His presence has been vital to the G-League Celtics’ success and to the overall developmental pipeline — the one that’s helped elevate players like Scheierman and Kornet. It’s awesome to see Davidson finally be rewarded with a contract at the highest level.

Baylor Scheierman: When the Celtics selected Baylor Scheierman in the first round last season, few expected him to play meaningful minutes as a rookie — and for most of the year, that held true. But April was a different story. After a breakout 15-point game against the Sixers, he followed it up with an impressive 20-point outing versus the Nets just two weeks later. Those flashes, combined with solid G-League performances, helped him build confidence. Since then, he’s started to show the elite shooting stroke fans were promised, along with an unexpected flair for creative passing. The Celtics got their next valuable rotation player in Scheierman.

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