Miles Norris is basically, actually excited to be a Boston Celtic

BRIGHTON — Miles Norris was on his method house from a G-League sport in Santa Cruz when he obtained the decision from his agent: the Celtics wished to signal him as their third two-way participant.

“He stated, ‘Go house, pack up, be able to go within the morning,’” Norris recalled, chatting with reporters for the primary time as a Celtic. “I packed as a lot as I may. It’s good to be right here.”

The decision was a very long time coming.

Norris went undrafted in 2023 after a collegiate profession that included stints in Oregon, CC of San Francisco, and UC Santa Barbara. He’s bounced round within the G League ever since, spending final season with the School Park Skyhawks, Atlanta’s G League affiliate, and this season with the Memphis Hustle.

On Monday, he toured the Auerbach Heart for the primary time and accomplished his bodily. On Tuesday, he met Joe Mazzulla and the remainder of the Celtics employees and gamers, becoming a member of the staff for a morning movie session that was sufficient to spotlight that the Celtics had been a successful group.

“It looks like they’re a extremely linked group,” Norris stated. “I’m actually excited to be part of that. Some locker rooms are a bit of totally different. It looks like they’ve a extremely sturdy connection chemistry-wise and within the locker room.”

Norris has one pre-existing relationship with a veteran Celtic: Payton Pritchard, who he was teammates together with his freshman 12 months at Oregon in 2019.

The 2 obtained to briefly atone for Tuesday morning.

“Payton’s a terrific man,” Norris stated. “It’s good to see him once more, good to be again enjoying with him once more after school. Small world. It’s like a full-circle second for me and Payton.”

Norris can be aware of Mazzulla, however within the very restricted method that most individuals within the basketball world are — from seeing his viral press convention moments on Instagram.

“A number of the press conferences with him are fairly humorous,” Norris stated with a smile. “However he’s a great dude. An intense coach, however he additionally has a humorousness to him, so I like that.”

Norris went to Brewster Academy for highschool, which is a pair hours from Boston in New Hampshire. He’s been to Boston a couple of occasions, and stated his early impressions had been constructive.

“I like the town of Boston,” Norris stated. “I’ve been right here a pair occasions. I’m gonna get used to the chilly climate, although, as a result of I’m a California man, so gotta get used to the chilly. However, I find it irresistible out right here, up to now – I like the individuals, teaching employees, the entire group.”

What stood out to the Celtics about Miles Norris

Norris has had an impressive 12 months for the Hustle. He’s averaging 17.1 factors, 5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, whereas taking pictures 38.5% from three. Mazzulla stated that Norris’s size, athleticism, and taking pictures capability all stood because the Celtics opted to signal him.

Mazzulla additionally stated that his earlier historical past of enjoying with Pritchard helped give the Celtics added confidence within the signing.

“If you recognize guys that know different guys and so they can vouch for them, how they’re, particularly within the locker room, how they’re outdoors of the ground, it undoubtedly helps,” Mazzulla stated.

Norris’s pleasure was palpable throughout his transient dialog with reporters; in actual fact, he used the phrase “excited” 12 occasions within the 5-minute interview.

That pleasure is comprehensible; that is the 24-year-old’s first time on a two-way contract, and it appears he might be a terrific match.

Jon Rosen, who supplies colour commentary for the Hustle, instructed CelticsBlog he believes he’ll seamlessly combine into the Celtics’ three-point-heavy offense.

“Miles is ideal for the Celtics,” Rosen stated. “He’s a shooter. He does present his athleticism now and again and he’ll hammer one down, [he’s a] right-handed dunker… Miles Norris will completely shoot the duvet off the ball, and he shoots it a ton.”

Most two-way gamers spend most of their time with the G League membership, and it sounds prefer it’s up within the air for Norris proper now. However, for a man who didn’t hear his title on draft night time, and has but to signal a two-way, it was apparent this was a momumental second.

“I’ve been enjoying properly all season, simply form of sticking it out within the G League, ready for my name — management what I can management,” Norris stated. “But it surely’s actually good to be right here in Boston. Like I stated, a successful tradition. I’m simply actually excited to be a part of this group.”