Jordan Walsh is carving out a reputation in Boston, and it’s not just because of his highlight-reel dunks or chase-down blocks-though those are certainly part of the package. What’s really turning heads inside the Celtics locker room and across the league is something far less flashy, but just as impactful: his elite screen navigation.
It’s the kind of defensive skill that doesn’t always show up in the box score but can completely change the rhythm of a possession. And for a rookie, Walsh is showing a level of poise and awareness that feels well beyond his years.
Take the Celtics’ win over the Wizards back on December 4. Walsh dropped a career-high 22 points in that one, but head coach Joe Mazzulla wasn’t just impressed by the scoring outburst.
“He was unscreenable,” Mazzulla said after the game. “Did a great job making plays defensively.”
That’s been the story all year-Walsh setting the tone on defense, possession after possession.
Fast forward to December 11 against the Bucks-a tough loss for Boston, but one that saw Walsh once again make his presence felt. Early in the game, Myles Turner tried to throw him off with a quick screen at the top of the key.
It wasn’t much-just a light touch on Walsh’s back before Turner dove to the rim. Against most defenders, that’s enough to create a window.
But not against Walsh.
He stayed attached to Kevin Porter Jr. like Velcro, refusing to bite on the misdirection. Turner circled back and tried to hit him again with a more solid screen.
This time, Walsh absorbed the contact, switched onto Turner without hesitation, and allowed Jaylen Brown to pick up Porter. Porter, under pressure, sailed a pass out of bounds.
Celtics ball.
That sequence didn’t end with a block or a steal, but it ended with a stop-and it was all sparked by Walsh’s discipline and dogged effort. That’s the kind of play that coaches love, teammates feed off of, and opponents dread.
What makes Walsh so special in these moments is his timing and tenacity. He doesn’t just fight through screens-he anticipates them.
He doesn’t overreact to contact-he absorbs it and adjusts. And he does it all while staying locked in on his assignment, rarely giving up space or getting caught out of position.
It’s easy to get caught up in the flashier parts of his game. The put-back dunks, the full-court strip steals, the momentum-swinging blocks-they all make the highlight reels.
But the real beauty of Jordan Walsh’s game is in the grind. The possessions where he refuses to be screened.
The moments where his footwork and instincts shut down an entire offensive action before it even begins.
For a Celtics team that prides itself on defensive identity, Walsh is quickly becoming a key piece. He’s not just filling minutes-he’s changing the tone of games. And while his scoring is coming along, it’s his defensive feel, especially his screen navigation, that’s quietly becoming one of Boston’s most valuable assets.
In a league where offenses are constantly looking to exploit mismatches and create space through pick-and-rolls, having a wing who can blow up those actions is gold. And right now, Jordan Walsh is showing he can be that guy.
Relentless. Smart.
Unscreenable.