Tosan Evbuomwan
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Tosan Evbuomwan during his time with the Brooklyn Nets in February 2025
Earlier this month, the Boston Celtics quietly made a move within their development pipeline that drew little attention at the time but now looks increasingly shrewd in hindsight.
The Maine Celtics acquired veteran forward Tosan Evbuomwan following his release from the New York Knicks, where he had been on a two-way contract.
The move reflected Boston’s broader approach to the G League, not only as a space to develop raw prospects but also as a proving ground for experienced players who remain on the fringes of full-time NBA roles.
Boston Celtics See Early Returns in Maine
On Sunday, Evbuomwan delivered a standout performance in a 147-138 win over the Greensboro Swarm, pouring in a season-high 34 points.
The Englishman shot 10-of-20 from the field and knocked down a career-high four three pointers. He also added three rebounds, a career-best 10 assists, one steal, and one block in 38 minutes.
In the same game, two-way guard Max Shulga was equally impressive, finishing with 33 points, seven rebounds, 13 assists, and a steal on 11-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-8 from deep.
Boston moved quickly to add Evbuomwan shortly after he hit the open market, having already acquired his G League rights in a prior transaction.
It was a clear indication that the organization had long identified him as a player worth monitoring, and his early returns with Maine have strengthened that belief.
Sunday’s outing was not an outlier but rather the latest example of sustained production.
Through six games with Maine, Evbuomwan is averaging 20.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.5 steals in 34.5 minutes per game while shooting 46.5% from the field and 38.2% from three on 5.7 attempts per contest.
Over that stretch, he ranks as the eighth-highest scoring forward in the G League with 121 total points. His 34 assists are tied for second among forwards, while his nine steals are tied for eighth and his 13 made threes rank 17th.
Limited Pathway but Growing League Interest
With Evbuomwan in the lineup, Maine has gone 4-2 and climbed to sixth in the Eastern Conference, holding a 9-6 regular season record.
Despite the encouraging production, the 6-foot-8 forward’s pathway within the Celtics organization remains narrow.
All of Boston’s two way slots are currently occupied by Shulga, Amari Williams, and Ron Harper Jr., limiting internal advancement beyond a standard NBA contract or a 10-day call up.
Evbuomwan is currently on a standard G League deal, which leaves him free to sign with any NBA team on a standard contract, two-way agreement, or 10-day deal without any obligation to remain tied to Boston beyond Maine.
That flexibility has already proven decisive elsewhere around the league. The Philadelphia 76ers recently signed veteran center Charles Bassey to a 10-day contract after a strong G League stretch with the Santa Cruz Warriors.
The Houston Rockets also signed scoring leader Tristen Newton to a two-way deal from the Iowa Wolves, while the New York Knicks recently added former first-round pick Dillion Jones from the Rip City Remix.
As the season progresses, similar moves are expected to become increasingly common. Teams drifting out of contention often shut down key contributors after the All-Star break and turn their focus toward the following season, creating opportunities for G League standouts to earn short-term NBA looks.
With 50 NBA games already on his resume and a growing body of high-level G League production, Evbuomwan appears well positioned for a call-up sooner rather than later, whether that opportunity ultimately comes with the Celtics or elsewhere.