Heading into the 2025-26 NBA season, we knew the Boston Celtics’ roster was going to look different from previous years. Brad Stevens parted ways with multiple members of the championship team as he looked to shed salary. As a result, there is a significant amount of playing time up for grabs, especially at the power forward position. At present, Jordan Walsh appears to be the first-choice power forward for Mazzulla. The former second-round pick has overtaken Josh Minott on the depth chart. His two-way production, including some lockdown defense on legitimate offensive talent, has quickly established him. Walsh’s strong showings have begun to catch the eye. In fact, an anonymous scout recently gave Celtics insider Steve Bulpett of Heavy on Sports a glowing review of Walsh and the mentality he’s bringing to the table. “What I like that I’ve seen is that they still get after it even when it’s not working,” the scout told Bulpett. “I mean, that guy (Jordan) Walsh, he’s getting better and he has a chance, but he wouldn’t get anywhere near the floor if they had last year’s team and it was healthy. But nobody wants to be good more than him. He might hit a 3 every now and then, and when he does, I’m so happy for him because nobody wants to be a player more than that young man. Nobody. He’s still struggling with a feel for what he’s doing, but they’ve given him a role, and, damn, he gets after it.” Story continues below advertisement Walsh was drafted as a defensive specialist. His incredible wingspan, elite-level athleticism, and ability to guard multiple positions were key reasons the Celtics selected him with the 38th pick in 2023. However, a limited offensive game and the need to develop his basketball IQ meant he spent most of his first two NBA seasons with the Maine Celtics in the G League. Still, Walsh is grasping his current opportunity with both hands. It might not always be pretty, but he’s giving 100% on every possession and will undoubtedly continue to develop as the season progresses. In the 11 games he’s played this season, Walsh is averaging 4.5 points and 4.1 rebounds, shooting 48.8% from the field. We knew that Boston needed some of its younger talent to step up this season, and, in truth, that was likely part of Stevens’ plan. Walsh is clearly making the most of his current opportunity, but with pressure from Minott and rookie Hugo Gonzalez, he can’t afford to take his foot off the gas. Judging by the way he’s been playing, that shouldn’t be a problem. Story continues below advertisement