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.