When a promising NBA talent falls in the draft compared to where they were expected to be taken by draft experts, while it can be disheartening to the player in question, there can also be unmitigated upside for that prospect if they end up with a team that is a good fit for their developmental future.
Such was the case with Boston Celtics rookie big man Chris Cenac Jr., who saw his stock drop from a potential lottery pick until he was picked up the Celtics with the No. 27 pick of the first round. Visibly irked by his slide at first, Cenac Jr. was comforted by his college coach at Houston, Ralph Sampson. "I said, ‘Chris, I’m glad those teams didn’t take you,’" offered the Houston head coach in a recent interview with Boston Globe Celtics beat writer Adam Himmelsbach.
"Then when Boston took him, I said, ‘They believe in you, Chris. You went to the right team.’ (Celtics president) Brad Stevens is one of the best basketball people in the world, and I’ve been so impressed with (Boston head coach) Joe Mazzulla.'"
It did not take long for Cenac Jr. to find his sea legs with the Celtics, either, showing out early (and often) with Boston in the NBA's 2026 Las Vegas Summer League. "A lot of these players play one or two games, then sit," said Sampson.
"Chris played every single game, including the last day, when not many kids were left. Chris’s best days might have been the last two days. He rebounded, he ran the floor, he competed, and he tried to win. I just loved his attitude."
We suspect we'll be seeing more of the Houston alum than some expect early in his rookie campaign. And, if he keeps playing with this sort of motor, perhaps often.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: College coach Ralph Sampson on Chris Cenac Jr. potential with Boston Celtics
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