Chris Cenac Jr. was taken in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft out of Houston.
Something that has become clear at Boston Celtics training camp this week is the improvement and development of first-round draft pick Chris Cenac Jr.
On Friday, Taylor Snow of the Celtics posted videos of Cenac working on - and connecting on - his 3-point shot from all around the floor. That was not a huge part of his game in college, but it certainly looks like it could be in the pros.
You can see the footage below, with our analysis to follow.
About Cenac
Drafted with the No. 27 overall pick out of Houston, Cenac brings premium athleticism to the center position.
A 6-foot-11 center from New Orleans, Cenac played for Kelvin Sampson with the Cougars, seeing time in 37 games in his one season. He helped get them to the NCAA Tournament as a highly-regarded seed as well.
Cenac started 36 of those contests, playing 25 minutes a game and averaging 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds. Long and athletic, he also averaged 0.5 blocks per night and he also had 0.8 steals.
From the perimeter, Cenac shot 33.3 percent from 3-point range, attempting 2.4 threes per night. He's not afraid to attempt them, and we saw that he is capable of hitting them during the Las Vegas Summer League. This video simply reinforces that it's something in his bag.
The Celtics have brought in Mitchell Robinson and have Neemias Queta and Luka Garza already in the fold, so Cenac's time is not guaranteed, but the more he improves, the better chance he gives himself.
How the 3-point shot could impact him
It's well-established that the Celtics are heavily reliant on the 3-point shot. They are routinely in the top five in 3-pointers attempted and this year figures to be no different.
Over the last several years, Boston has typically had a big man that is capable of "picking and popping" for a jump shot: Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis most notably. Robinson and Queta are not really those players, but if Cenac can become one then he can ingratiate himself into the rotation more.
It might take some time to fully develop that skillset and trust from the coaching staff, and he may need to start his season in the G-League with the Maine Celtics.
The preseason begins on Thursday and we should get a significant look at Cenac in that time. The Celtics will play four preseason games in total.
