60 aspiring NBA players achieved their dream last Thursday when they heard their name selected and made part of a roster; Sam Hauser’s was not one of them, at least not at first. League Commissioner Adam Silver never announced his name, but his phone rang minutes later with an incoming call from the Celtics.
It isn’t abnormal for teams to rush to the phone following the draft trying to ink more new talent and fill their Summer League team. Hauser reportedly also received calls from multiple teams but ultimately agreed to a two-way contract with Boston after the Celtics drafted Juhann Begarin with the 45th overall pick in the draft.
The 6-foot-8 three-point specialist will enter the NBA after a strong season at the University of Virginia. He scored 400 points total, averaging 16, and establishing a 41.7 three-point percentage as a forward despite being upset in the first round of March Madness. Before transferring to Virginia last year, Hauser played three seasons at Marquette University in Wisconsin, his hometown.
At Marquette, Hauser became decorated, being named his team’s MVP for two consecutive years and selected to the All-Big East Second Team in his final season. His time in Wisconsin also reflects his consistency through maintaining at least a 40 three-point percentage each season.
These stats should excite Celtics’ fans because adding another accurate three-point shooter to a lineup with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will continue to sharpen their offensive attack and help them climb the standings. As a team, they averaged just below a 40 three-point percentage last season, landing within the NBA’s top ten. Hauser may be another piece to what Boston has needed to find themselves further in the playoffs.
Fans can see how the 23-year-old rookie represents The Green beginning on August 8th, as he joins Yam Madar, a 2020 draft pick, in Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League.
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)