Joe Mazzulla’s matchup-driven approach explains why Walsh started, sat, and still matters.
Jordan Walsh is still a starter.
He’s also learning, in real time, what that actually means on this Celtics team (21-12) coached by this Celtics head coach.
Walsh has been one of Boston’s most consistent young contributors over the past several weeks, starting 19 straight games when available and carving out a surprising rotation role at just 21 years old. For a player who entered the season on the fringes (at from my view), that alone qualifies as a breakout.
But Thursday night in Sacramento (8-26) offered a reminder of how thin the margins are.
Walsh played five minutes.
He started. He sat. And he never came back in.
If you’re looking for a punishment or a message, you won’t find one. According to head coach Joe Mazzulla, this had nothing to do with Walsh playing poorly, and everything to do with the Celtics having options.
“It’s nothing that he’s doing wrong,” Mazzulla said postgame. “It’s just we can go to so many different things.”
That’s the key line.
This isn’t about Walsh falling out of favor. It’s about Boston leaning into what makes them dangerous: matchup flexibility and depth.
Sam Hauser’s shot was cooking early, and when Hauser is knocking down threes - he finished 5 for 7 from deep for 15 points - it changes the geometry of the floor. Mazzulla leaned into that, even opening the second half with Hauser in Walsh’s spot.
The move worked.
Jan 1, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jordan Walsh (27) goes up for the shot while defended by Sacramento Kings forward Precious Achiuwa (9) during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. (Dennis Lee/Imagn Images)MORE CELTICS STORIES:
Boston went on a run, the offense opened up, and Sacramento struggled to adjust. Add in Neemias Queta’s defensive presence and suddenly the Celtics were winning segments - which is how this coaching staff thinks about games. They finished the job, beating the Kings 120-106 to move to 3-1 on their road trip with one game left remaining on Saturday night against the Clippers (12-21).
This wasn’t the first time Walsh has started and then watched from the bench. That happened back on December 20 against Toronto (20-15), though Mazzulla later clarified Walsh was dealing with illness that night and missed the following game entirely. That wasn’t the case in Sacramento.
This time, it was purely situational.
Over the past three games, Walsh’s minutes have dipped to just over nine per night. He’s still technically a starter, but Boston has leaned heavily on its wing depth. Hauser had the hot hand Thursday. Rookie Hugo Gonzalez continues to earn trust with his energy and defensive instincts. Baylor Scheierman has popped in spots as well.
That’s the reality of this roster.
Walsh isn’t losing his place, he’s sharing it. And that’s not a bad thing for a 21-year-old on a team with legitimate playoff aspirations.
Mazzulla has repeatedly spoken about the trust he has in Walsh, particularly in terms of preparation and effort behind the scenes. When his number is called, Walsh has shown he can be an impactful, high-energy wing. For my money, he’s among the best defensive players at his position in the entire NBA.
The challenge now is consistency - not just in performance, but in readiness.
On this Celtics team, minutes aren’t guaranteed. They’re earned night by night, matchup by matchup.
Walsh has already proven he belongs - the next step is proving he can stay ready when the opportunity swings back his way.
Because it will.
That’s how long seasons work.
Dec 30, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jordan Walsh (27) shoots against the Utah Jazz during the first half at Delta Center. (Rob Gray/Imagn Images)JOIN THE CONVERSATION
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.