The Boston Celtics handed rookie big man Amari Williams the most significant opportunity of his young NBA career on Monday night-and he didn’t just show up, he showed out.
With backup center Luka Garza sidelined by illness and starter Neemias Queta seeing limited minutes, Williams logged a career-high 26 minutes in Boston’s 102-94 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at TD Garden. The second-round pick out of Kentucky, currently on a two-way deal, made the most of his extended run, flashing the kind of two-way potential that has the Celtics’ locker room buzzing.
“I thought Amari did a great job today,” said Jaylen Brown after the win. “I thought he looked exceptional.”
That’s not empty praise. Matched up against Portland’s frontcourt duo of Donovan Clingan and former Celtic Robert Williams III, the 6-foot-10 rookie held his ground and then some. He finished with nine points, seven rebounds, two blocks, a steal, and an assist-a stat line that only begins to tell the story of his impact, especially in the first half.
Boston outscored Portland by 15 points with Williams on the floor in the opening two quarters, and he was everywhere. In one particularly impressive three-minute stretch in the first quarter, Williams dished a slick pass to fellow rookie Hugo Gonzalez for a contested layup, hammered home a dunk off a Derrick White assist, blocked Jerami Grant at the rim, and drew a foul while finishing through contact over Robert Williams III. He added another block and a steal in the second quarter, with the latter sparking a fast break that led to two free throws.
“He just gave us a different look,” said head coach Joe Mazzulla. “Clingan and Rob bring a lot of length, and Amari matched that.
But more than that, he gave us a guy who could screen, create separation for our guards, and hold his own defensively. He made plays on both ends.”
Williams’ second-half performance wasn’t as sharp-he went 0-for-4 from the field, picked up four fouls, and finished with a -11 in plus-minus-but the early flashes left a strong impression on his teammates.
“He came out, he protected the rim, he was where he was supposed to be for the most part,” Brown said. “Amari made it easy for us tonight.”
Payton Pritchard echoed that sentiment, noting Williams’ presence in the paint and hinting at untapped upside.
“His rebounding, boxing out, protecting the rim-it was all solid,” Pritchard said. “But we’ve got to use Amari more for his passing ability, because he can really pass.”
That’s not just lip service. Williams had already shown a glimpse of that vision in Boston’s double-overtime win over Brooklyn last Friday.
Thrust into crunch time after both Queta and Garza fouled out, Williams delivered a clutch assist to Pritchard for a three that cut the Nets’ lead to two with 4.5 seconds left. Moments later, Gonzalez hit a buzzer-beater to force a second overtime, and Williams stayed on the floor the rest of the way-scoring a go-ahead layup through contact and sealing the 130-126 win with a statement block.
He earned his first NBA start the next night in Chicago, but the results weren’t quite the same. Against a faster-paced Bulls team, Williams looked a step behind at times, logging just 10 minutes in a 114-111 loss.
“Chicago’s a much faster, more free-flowing, dribble-drive type team,” Mazzulla explained. “(Monday) was more of a slugfest, and that kind of game suits Amari’s strengths.
He was able to protect the rim, rebound, and set hard screens. But it’s also a credit to his work ethic.
Our system requires guys to make quick reads on both ends, and he’s been locked in.”
Williams has spent most of his rookie season with the G League Maine Celtics, where he’s been productive in a system that mirrors Boston’s. He’s averaging 14.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting an efficient 60.9% from the field-numbers that show he's more than just a developmental project.
At 23, Williams isn’t your typical raw rookie. He’s got a mature frame, a growing feel for the game, and now, a couple of meaningful NBA performances under his belt. The Celtics have championship aspirations this season, and while Williams may not be part of the nightly rotation just yet, he’s proving he can step in and contribute when called upon.
And for a team eyeing a deep playoff run, having a young big who can hold his own in real minutes? That’s a luxury-and one Boston might be leaning on more as the season unfolds.