The biggest surprise of this Celtics preseason? The emergence of their youngest player, Jordan Walsh, who looks poised for a real role in Year 2.

I n his first season in the NBA playing for the Boston Celtics, rookie forward Jordan Walsh looked a bit like the proverbial deer in headlights, not quite knowing what to do with

Defend at a high level, defend multiple positions, rebound, and then make reads on the offensive end. So, he's doing a great job.”Walsh of course has had the pleasure of learning from big two-way wings like himself in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

BOSTON — Jordan Walsh is no longer a rookie but he entered training camp a little behind the pack at the end of the Celtics bench. The 20-year-old struggled during summer league in Las Vegas on the offensive end and there were questions about just how soon he would be able to contribute at the NBA level.

Coach Joe Mazzulla believes Walsh, who played 27 games for the Maine Celtics a year ago, can make an impact as a dirty-work defender with offensive upside.

Jordan Walsh appeared in all five of the Boston Celtics’ preseason games, scoring 45 points (9 per game) on 15-of-33 (45.4%) shooting from the field and 7-of-19 (36.8%) from beyond the arc, seemingly carving himself out a role in the rotation.