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BOSTON — Just a few days after Baylor Scheierman was drafted, he met Jayson Tatum on the Auerbach Heart.
“The primary day I stepped foot into the apply facility, he was there signing his new contract,” Scheierman instructed CelticsBlog earlier this month. “And simply from the bounce, he was at all times there for me to speak to.”
Scheierman, chosen with the No. 30 decide within the NBA Draft, signed his rookie contract the identical day Tatum signed his supermax extension.
And, from the bounce, his celebrity teammate served as an approachable supply of data and steering.
“I requested him about Summer time League and what to anticipate, and he shared all the things and gave me some recommendation on how I ought to go about it and whatnot,” Scheierman mentioned of Tatum. “And it’s simply how he’s been the entire 12 months.”
All through the season, Tatum routinely praised Scheierman for his maturity and strategy to the sport.
“His understanding of the sport may be very excessive,” Tatum mentioned in March. “Very excessive IQ participant — is aware of the place to be on the ground spacing clever.”
“He simply has actually good instincts, clearly can shoot the ball — not probably the most athletic, however understands how you can use his physique.”
The delivery of the wrist celebration
The 2’s friendship was seen after Tatum damage his wrist within the playoff opener in opposition to the Orlando Magic. Tatum sat out Recreation 2 and returned to common 36 factors per sport in the remainder of the sequence. After every three, he raised his wrist over his head, a celebration he credited Scheierman for developing with in his postgame press convention.
Scheierman loved watching Tatum’s dominance later in that sequence — and in flip, the Celtics’ rookie got here up with a patented wrist celebration from the sidelines.
“When he got here again, he was cooking,” Scheierman mentioned. “And it’s similar to, ‘I bought a sprained wrist, and I’m nonetheless out right here cooking you guys.’”
“He noticed me do it, and type of favored it. It was like, ‘Good things, rook,’ and we simply went with it.”
And, when it was Scheierman’s flip to attain within the playoffs, Tatum responded with the identical sideline celebration.
Scheierman mentioned Tatum instilled him with confidence all season lengthy
Subsequent season, with Tatum anticipated to overlook most, if not all, of the 12 months as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon, Scheierman may see a bigger function within the rotation. The 24-year-old, who spent the primary half of the season within the G League, discovered his footing when he joined the dad or mum membership full-time, showcasing his offensive versatility and hustle.
In March, Scheierman averaged 6.3 factors on 48.8% taking pictures, together with a scorching 47.4% from three. He credited Tatum for persevering with to encourage him throughout that run.
“The final stretch of the season, after I was getting lots of minutes, he was simply frequently in my ear telling me to be assured, proceed to be aggressive, and shoot the ball after I’m open,” Scheierman mentioned. “That’s simply the kind of teammate he’s — the kind of man he’s — simply instilling confidence in all people that’s on the courtroom and on the bench.”
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