After extending Ron Harper Jr. (three years, $9 million) and Neemias Queta (four years, $56 million), Brad Stevens and the Celtics front office handed out their third contract extension of the offseason Thursday, signing Jordan Walsh to a three-year, $15 million deal that runs through the 2029-30 season.
The extension comes shortly after the Celtics picked up Walsh’s $2.4 million team option for the 2026-27 season.
Entering last season, Walsh, the 38th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, had logged just 486 NBA minutes. He more than doubled that total in 2025-26 (1,212), appearing in 68 games (25 starts) and averaging 5.4 points on 50.9% shooting, along with 4.0 rebounds (1.3 offensive), in 17.8 minutes per game, all career-highs.
He also finished among the team leaders in several hustle categories, ranking fourth in offensive rebounds (85), fourth in deflections (117), fifth in steals (49) and third in blocks (31).
The Celtics went 12-4 when Walsh played at least 25 minutes and 18-7 in his starts. He appeared in all seven playoff games, averaging 12.7 minutes.
Walsh is still just 22 years old and won’t turn 23 until March. He’s actually younger than 2026 second-round pick Dillon Mitchell, who turns 23 in October. The only younger players on Boston’s roster are Chris Cenac Jr. (19) and Hugo Gonzalez (20).
The upside is easy to see, especially on a team-friendly deal like this one.
The lengthy wing has developed a reputation as a strong rebounder and an elite defender, capable of matching up with the top scorers on opposing teams.
Here’s how he fared against some of the league’s top talents, per NBA tracking:
CJ McCollum: 6-23 FG, 2 turnovers
James Harden: 4-9 FG, 1 turnover
Cade Cunningham: 4-13 FG, 4 turnovers
LaMelo Ball: 3-11 FG, 4 turnovers
Tyrese Maxey: 1-10 FG
Donovan Mitchell: 2-8 FG, 2 turnovers
Scottie Barnes: 1-4 FG, 1 turnover
Kawhi Leonard: 1-5 FG, 1 turnover
Franz Wagner: 2-7 FG, 1 turnover
Karl-Anthony Towns: 3-8 FG, 1 turnover
Overall, opponents shot 44.3% when defended by Walsh, 2.3 percentage points below their expected field-goal percentage.
Against the 76ers in the playoffs — a series in which Walsh often drew the assignment of Tyrese Maxey, one of the league’s most dynamic scorers — opponents shot just 40.7% when defended by Walsh, 5.2 percentage points below their expected output.
Not bad.
“He just plays hard as crap, every single possession,” Lakers star Austin Reaves said back in December, after Walsh held him to just three shot attempts across 23 possessions. “His ability, his length, his athleticism. He’s physically gifted. Moves really well. I could see him being one of the best defenders in the league for many years to come.”
Walsh also showed significant growth offensively last season.
After shooting just 26.5% from three (17-of-64) over his first two NBA seasons, the Arkansas product improved by nearly 12 percentage points, knocking down 48 of his 125 attempts (38.4%).
Building on that offensive growth has been Walsh’s primary focus this offseason.
“The biggest thing, I’m trying to change my identity offensively. I’m trying to become a better — way better — offensive player,” Walsh said earlier this month at Summer League. “I’m trying to fit in situations that I didn’t fit in last year. I’m trying to be the answer to the situations that they took me out of. That’s kind of my goal.”
Jordan Walsh on his focus this offseason:
“The biggest thing, I'm trying to change my identity offensively. I'm trying to become a better — way better — offensive player. I'm trying to fit in situations that I didn't fit in last year. I'm trying to be the answer to the… pic.twitter.com/0PzvkIbQi0
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) July 12, 2026
It’s a low-risk, high-upside, team-friendly deal for the Celtics.
Walsh has already established himself as a high-level defender and rebounder while making encouraging strides as a shooter. At just 22 years old, there’s still plenty of room for growth.
With increased opportunities available behind veterans Jayson Tatum, Paul George and Sam Hauser, Walsh and the rest of Boston’s young wings — Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Ron Harper Jr. and Dillon Mitchell — will have every chance to continue their development this season.
