Welcome to Boston, JD Davison! – Appreciation Thread (Waived July 24, 2025)

[Fierce1]

It would be fun seeing Bronny James vs. JD Davison play 1 on 1.

[phincsfan]

Nothing against JD but I'd rather see Springer or even Baylor bring the ball up and set up the offense during SL.

[cl2117]

If Brad Stevens signed a 21 year old point guard that was top five in total points and assists scored in the G-League last year from another team roster to a two way deal everybody would be praising him for stealing that guy from the rest of the league. But for some reason JD Davison already being in the Celtics system is being held against him. I don't get that.

I understand that he isn't an NBA player today and that might be slightly disappointing after two years in Maine but he got much better from year 1 to year 2 and he deserves another chance to improve into an NBA guy. Last year Stevens cycled through Jay Scrubb and Nathan Knight on two ways before settling on Drew Peterson. If Davison doesn't cut it, I trust Brad to sort it out and find someone who will. Until then let JD show he deserves the opportunity.

The turnovers issue is so overstated by the way. He has the ball in his hands all the time, of course his raw totals of turnovers are going to look bad. His assist to turnover ratio is a very solid 2.5. He had a 39.4 AST% in the G-League last season which only Young, Haliburton, Doncic and Jokic exceeded at the NBA level last year. As a reference point, nobody on Boston topped 22% except JD in his very limited run where he was at 32.9%. He is a special passer.

Yep, it's good to recall that JD is only 21, been in the league for just two years, and in that time he's been behind Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Payton Pritchard, and also JT and JB as far as getting any minutes at all being a ball handler.

Pritchard has been with the team for two more years than JD and is already 26 -- almost 5 years older. Joe doesn't play the youngsters much anyway. It took PP a long look in the mirror last summer to decide that he wanted to re-up with the Celtics as he wasn't satisfied with his role. JD is fine in his own development. He's still one of the youngest players on the team -- two years younger than the 2024 draft picks.

I don't want to compare players too much, as PP has the clear advantage in age, experience, and shooting. They are similar size and weight, but JD has more athleticism and upside. I've thought JD might be that PP replacement last year if PP left, but he's now slipped in the pecking order of a really stacked team.

So I'm still waiting at the altar, as it were, for JD to show up with the goods, but I think he's got more to show.

For me it comes down to style of play. JD needs the ball in his hands to be effective offensively and defensively he’s never likely to be a plus player. For him to be successful you’ve got to let him cook, which doesn’t really align with our roster that’s overfull of star talent and would probably benefit more from complimentary pieces. He seems like he’d be better off on a lottery team that will be more willing to overlook his deficiencies (shooting/defense) in the hopes that he develops. As compared to us, who aren’t likely to let our 3rd/4th string PG have the keys to the car and say “go do your thing”.

So I can understand why people aren’t bullish on bringing him back. He doesn’t fit the mould of a guy who could come in and find minutes as a complimentary piece, but he’s also not popped as guy whose strengths will so massively outweigh his weaknesses that he could be a G League steal (as evidenced by the fact that he’s back with us on a two-way rather than someone else taking a flyer on him). With two years already under his belt, I get wanting to move on to a guy who is still more of an unknown or who has a profile that suggests he can find a niche role more easily.

The fact that he has such a good pedigree and is still only 21 makes him worthwhile a two-way slot. If his shot starts falling consistently, he certainly could be a rotation level guard for an NBA team. Plus if you think of what we want out of that two-way slot most, it’s a guy who could step in if we’re dealing with injuries and help shoulder the burden for an emergency stretch throughout the season. JD has the most experience in our system that you can possibly get as a two-way and under those circumstances he’d be more likely to be handed the reigns and let him play his style more because it wouldn’t just be spot minutes).

[cloverleaf]

It would be fun seeing Bronny James vs. JD Davison play 1 on 1.

Davison would absolutely murder him.

He's a victim at this point of a) his goofy hair and b) not breaking the rotation after 2 years despite being so young.

The C's are right to keep investing him, because he has elite skills and instincts, and only relatively late in life has encountered real developmental programs. Sure, he's not that tall, but he's got a solid base, hops, reaction times, and wingspan (6" more than his height). He's not afraid to mix it up and really sees and delivers on dishing opportunities and has never been a selfish player.

Refine that shooting a bit more (he was from a tiny school before his 1 year in college and now 2 years with the C's) and presume that he's grown up a bit--and you've got a real gem.

[Shak_Celts]

Our eyes weren't lying when we saw JB repeatedly dribbling the ball off his foot or throwing the ball away at those rare times he tried to pass it to a teammate. But he of course has made himself a dramatically better player now.

And good move for a still very young Mr. Davison. I hope he's matured in his focus and that he'll earn his way up from the 2-way during the season.

Your eyes may not have been lying, those few times, but your analysis that it was a lot is a problem that a lot of people have. Terrible turnovers at times, absolutely, but he just wasn’t and isn’t a high turnover guy. This isn’t me just liking the guy either.

It’s all good, it doesn’t really matter now, he can go out next year and turn it over 10 times a game, he’s forever a Celtics champion. If Ray Allen can bring his turncoat behind back then anyone can… well, not Perk (still a champ)!

JB had more TOs than assists for 3 of his first 4 years in that league--and that other year it was very close (99/100).
To his great credit he has improved immensely, though it is still one of his weaknesses when he has a bad game.

Still not a lot of turnovers, which is what we’re discussing. I agreed he didn’t get assists.

[cloverleaf]

Your eyes may not have been lying, those few times, but your analysis that it was a lot is a problem that a lot of people have. Terrible turnovers at times, absolutely, but he just wasn’t and isn’t a high turnover guy. This isn’t me just liking the guy either.

It’s all good, it doesn’t really matter now, he can go out next year and turn it over 10 times a game, he’s forever a Celtics champion. If Ray Allen can bring his turncoat behind back then anyone can… well, not Perk (still a champ)!

JB had more TOs than assists for 3 of his first 4 years in that league--and that other year it was very close (99/100).
To his great credit he has improved immensely, though it is still one of his weaknesses when he has a bad game.

Still not a lot of turnovers, which is what we’re discussing. I agreed he didn’t get assists.

Because he couldn't handle the it without turning it over (and wasn't passing it on to teammates either), they didn't often have the ball!

But again, he's so much better now that the improvement is a great credit to him.

[Dogen]

If Brad Stevens signed a 21 year old point guard that was top five in total points and assists scored in the G-League last year from another team roster to a two way deal everybody would be praising him for stealing that guy from the rest of the league. But for some reason JD Davison already being in the Celtics system is being held against him. I don't get that.

I understand that he isn't an NBA player today and that might be slightly disappointing after two years in Maine but he got much better from year 1 to year 2 and he deserves another chance to improve into an NBA guy. Last year Stevens cycled through Jay Scrubb and Nathan Knight on two ways before settling on Drew Peterson. If Davison doesn't cut it, I trust Brad to sort it out and find someone who will. Until then let JD show he deserves the opportunity.

The turnovers issue is so overstated by the way. He has the ball in his hands all the time, of course his raw totals of turnovers are going to look bad. His assist to turnover ratio is a very solid 2.5. He had a 39.4 AST% in the G-League last season which only Young, Haliburton, Doncic and Jokic exceeded at the NBA level last year. As a reference point, nobody on Boston topped 22% except JD in his very limited run where he was at 32.9%. He is a special passer.

Yep, it's good to recall that JD is only 21, been in the league for just two years, and in that time he's been behind Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Payton Pritchard, and also JT and JB as far as getting any minutes at all being a ball handler.

Pritchard has been with the team for two more years than JD and is already 26 -- almost 5 years older. Joe doesn't play the youngsters much anyway. It took PP a long look in the mirror last summer to decide that he wanted to re-up with the Celtics as he wasn't satisfied with his role. JD is fine in his own development. He's still one of the youngest players on the team -- two years younger than the 2024 draft picks.

I don't want to compare players too much, as PP has the clear advantage in age, experience, and shooting. They are similar size and weight, but JD has more athleticism and upside. I've thought JD might be that PP replacement last year if PP left, but he's now slipped in the pecking order of a really stacked team.

So I'm still waiting at the altar, as it were, for JD to show up with the goods, but I think he's got more to show.

For me it comes down to style of play. JD needs the ball in his hands to be effective offensively and defensively he’s never likely to be a plus player. For him to be successful you’ve got to let him cook, which doesn’t really align with our roster that’s overfull of star talent and would probably benefit more from complimentary pieces. He seems like he’d be better off on a lottery team that will be more willing to overlook his deficiencies (shooting/defense) in the hopes that he develops. As compared to us, who aren’t likely to let our 3rd/4th string PG have the keys to the car and say “go do your thing”.

So I can understand why people aren’t bullish on bringing him back. He doesn’t fit the mould of a guy who could come in and find minutes as a complimentary piece, but he’s also not popped as guy whose strengths will so massively outweigh his weaknesses that he could be a G League steal (as evidenced by the fact that he’s back with us on a two-way rather than someone else taking a flyer on him). With two years already under his belt, I get wanting to move on to a guy who is still more of an unknown or who has a profile that suggests he can find a niche role more easily.

The fact that he has such a good pedigree and is still only 21 makes him worthwhile a two-way slot. If his shot starts falling consistently, he certainly could be a rotation level guard for an NBA team. Plus if you think of what we want out of that two-way slot most, it’s a guy who could step in if we’re dealing with injuries and help shoulder the burden for an emergency stretch throughout the season. JD has the most experience in our system that you can possibly get as a two-way and under those circumstances he’d be more likely to be handed the reigns and let him play his style more because it wouldn’t just be spot minutes).

This bolded part is probably the main (Maine?) point. It's the same with Springer. He can do all this stuff on his own, but until he proves to Joe that he can stand in the corner and hit open threes at a 40% clip, there's not much chance to get real action.

For both JD and JS, they need to cook, as you say, and that may mean to simmer before boil by getting some regular minutes. Springer has that size and defense, so I think he'll get more of a shot this season.

For JD, I'm glad they kept him in employ but this seems like a make or break year for him with the Celtics.

[cloverleaf]

I don't see why JD has to be turned into just a catch and shoot SG. Along with being a 4th PG on the team right now, he could well play off the bench with Pritchard playing the 2 if they were on the court together. A short backcourt, but they could also wreak havoc with their frenetic play.

[Shak_Celts]

JB had more TOs than assists for 3 of his first 4 years in that league--and that other year it was very close (99/100).
To his great credit he has improved immensely, though it is still one of his weaknesses when he has a bad game.

Still not a lot of turnovers, which is what we’re discussing. I agreed he didn’t get assists.

Because he couldn't handle the it without turning it over (and wasn't passing it on to teammates either), they didn't often have the ball!

But again, he's so much better now that the improvement is a great credit to him.

He had the ball a lot though and people with the ball as much as he did turned it over more!

Again, all the coaches at one point said he was in the role of scorer. Funny how when he was asked to do more, now comes the praise. Maybe had he been given the role Joe gave him, earlier, he could be even better by now.

Joe trusted him in a way everyone said he shouldn’t and here we are with 18. No one listens to the stats more than Joe and he still chose to let Brown run the offense when everyone said he was wrong. Brown passed more and what do you know, still wasn’t turning it over a lot.

He doesn’t and never has had an issue with turnovers. People just needed something to pile on him and they chose the thing they remember most, his craziest turnovers.

Edit: I’ll read your last rebuttal but this is JD’s thread, I’m not responding. Sorry for taking it over.

[cl2117]

This bolded part is probably the main (Maine?) point. It's the same with Springer. He can do all this stuff on his own, but until he proves to Joe that he can stand in the corner and hit open threes at a 40% clip, there's not much chance to get real action.

For both JD and JS, they need to cook, as you say, and that may mean to simmer before boil by getting some regular minutes. Springer has that size and defense, so I think he'll get more of a shot this season.

For JD, I'm glad they kept him in employ but this seems like a make or break year for him with the Celtics.

I think this is also why JD might be particularly suited for our two-way emergency depth PG slot.

Realistically if we are short-handed with one of Jrue/White/Pritchard out on a given night, Joe will most likely bring in a wing to take up those minutes with the remaining two ball-handlers picking up all the point guard minutes. We don't really need a guy to be able to come in and play spot minutes.

The only time a two-way guy would figure to feature in is when we're down 2-3 guards and at that stage we probably will actually ask him to run the point for extended stretches. Under those circumstances I think JD could actually shine (assuming he makes some steps forward). Pushing the pace with the 2nd unit, having a bit longer of a leash for him to "simmer" and then heat up, actually getting to keep the ball in his hands.

[cloverleaf]

Still not a lot of turnovers, which is what we’re discussing. I agreed he didn’t get assists.

Because he couldn't handle the it without turning it over (and wasn't passing it on to teammates either), they didn't often have the ball!

But again, he's so much better now that the improvement is a great credit to him.

He had the ball a lot though and people with the ball as much as he did turned it over more!

Again, all the coaches at one point said he was in the role of scorer. Funny how when he was asked to do more, now comes the praise. Maybe had he been given the role Joe gave him, earlier, he could be even better by now.

Joe trusted him in a way everyone said he shouldn’t and here we are with 18. No one listens to the stats more than Joe and he still chose to let Brown run the offense when everyone said he was wrong. Brown passed more and what do you know, still wasn’t turning it over a lot.

He doesn’t and never has had an issue with turnovers. People just needed something to pile on him and they chose the thing they remember most, his craziest turnovers.

Edit: I’ll read your last rebuttal but this is JD’s thread, I’m not responding. Sorry for taking it over.

Hadn't realized we had JB's mom as a moderator. Cool!

[phincsfan]

I see JD as Brad first draft pick and he's doing everything he can to salvage a career for the kid. I'm sorry, but 26% from 3 for a team that shoots the most 3's and makes the most is not a good combo.

What I don't want to see is JD take 8 three's a game during SL to show he's ready to contribute behind the arc. That doesn't help anyone on the court with him.

[cloverleaf]

In brief minutes over 2 years, he's a respectable 5/14 for a .357 average from 3 in the NBA, with a .581 TS%. And he's just now 21--2 years younger than their 2 draft picks and 4 years younger than anyone who has contributed significant minutes on the team.

Last year with .429 from 3 at 6.5 attempts per 36.

So he has no track record of getting over his skis, bombing misses from the 3, at the NBA level. I really am not sure why so many here are so negative toward him.

[Hal14]

I don't see why JD has to be turned into just a catch and shoot SG. Along with being a 4th PG on the team right now, he could well play off the bench with Pritchard playing the 2 if they were on the court together. A short backcourt, but they could also wreak havoc with their frenetic play.

I agree. You couldn't play them together a lot due to the lack of size and defense.

But in short stretches, it could work. The way both of them like to really play fast and push the pace. JD as the table setter PG, seeing the floor, dishing out assists everywhere and Pritchard spotting up from 3..then Pritchard hustles in for an offensive rebound, dishes it to JD who throws a lob to Queta, Kornet or KP and the garden crowd goes nuts..I can see it..

[Smart2Nesmith43]

I see JD as Brad first draft pick and he's doing everything he can to salvage a career for the kid. I'm sorry, but 26% from 3 for a team that shoots the most 3's and makes the most is not a good combo.

What I don't want to see is JD take 8 three's a game during SL to show he's ready to contribute behind the arc. That doesn't help anyone on the court with him.

Denis Schröder and Enes Freedom were the highlights of Stevens' first free agency and he got rid of them the second it become obvious they didn't fit the team. He got rid of Nathan Knight a few weeks after signing him to a two way to upgrade to Drew Peterson. I see no evidence in Stevens' track record as an executive that he cares more about optics than making the right decision so I believe JD Davison is here on merit not to protect Stevens' ego. Besides Begarin was actually Stevens' first draft pick.

[Scoonie]

Davison is making over $500k a year on his two-way contract. Not a bad gig at all.

Better than playing for a sketchy overseas team where they may withhold or skip your paychecks.

[Hal14]

I see JD as Brad first draft pick and he's doing everything he can to salvage a career for the kid. I'm sorry, but 26% from 3 for a team that shoots the most 3's and makes the most is not a good combo.

What I don't want to see is JD take 8 three's a game during SL to show he's ready to contribute behind the arc. That doesn't help anyone on the court with him.

Denis Schröder and Enes Freedom were the highlights of Stevens' first free agency and he got rid of them the second it become obvious they didn't fit the team. He got rid of Nathan Knight a few weeks after signing him to a two way to upgrade to Drew Peterson. I see no evidence in Stevens' track record as an executive that he cares more about optics than making the right decision so I believe JD Davison is here on merit not to protect Stevens' ego. Besides Begarin was actually Stevens' first draft pick.

Agreed with all of that and would just add that JD shot 31.3% from 3 last year in the G league..not a great number (it's obviously an area he's gotta keep working on..) but not as bad as 26%..

[jfs1000d]

It would be fun seeing Bronny James vs. JD Davison play 1 on 1.

Davison would absolutely murder him.

He's a victim at this point of a) his goofy hair and b) not breaking the rotation after 2 years despite being so young.

The C's are right to keep investing him, because he has elite skills and instincts, and only relatively late in life has encountered real developmental programs. Sure, he's not that tall, but he's got a solid base, hops, reaction times, and wingspan (6" more than his height). He's not afraid to mix it up and really sees and delivers on dishing opportunities and has never been a selfish player.

Refine that shooting a bit more (he was from a tiny school before his 1 year in college and now 2 years with the C's) and presume that he's grown up a bit--and you've got a real gem.

There are no mistakes or charity cases in nba (Bronny probably closet, but he is a prospect).

If Brad didn’t think he was an nba caliber player and didn’t like his progress, he would have let him go. He not only hasn’t done that, he added him to a third year.

That makes Davidson a senior in college this year. He plays one more two-0way and then he gets a chance to take over for PP and/or Srpinger. If Celtics cut/trade Springer or trade PP at some point they got a guy who can step in off the bench and run a team.

[ConstableGeneva]

Read on Twitter

[ConstableGeneva]

Watch on YouTube