Welcome to the Boston Celtics, Max Shulga!

[cloverleaf]

Getting to know Max:

https://www.midmajormadness.com/2025/6/23/24454017/vcu-guard-max-shulga-brings-play-making-ability-to-nba

-He left Kyiv for Spain as a child and later crossed the pond to enroll at Utah State University as a skinny 18-year-old.
-He won an Atlantic 10 Championship, a Conference Player of the Year award and a trip to the NCAA Tournament as super-senior with Virginia Commonwealth University.
-He is a do-it-all 6-foot-5 combo with a feel for the game and is equally productive on and off the ball.
- He can create separation with spin moves and crafty footwork
- Shulga was at the heart of one of the most aggressive teams in the country, which ranked in the top 5 in defensive efficiency.

I think this guy will overcome his "unathletic" label just as Payton has proven his "too small" wrong.

[themoneyteam2]

A-10 POY for a reason

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

I am predicting some big Summer League games for Mad Max and Celtics fans will fall in love with him...

[Half-Full]

Binky worthy. Looking forward to seeing him play in Summer League. While he may not be "athletic," he has a well rounded game, and plays hard. Likely he will spend some time with the Maine Celtics, but nothing wrong with that.

[return2glory]

Getting to know Max:

https://www.midmajormadness.com/2025/6/23/24454017/vcu-guard-max-shulga-brings-play-making-ability-to-nba

-He left Kyiv for Spain as a child and later crossed the pond to enroll at Utah State University as a skinny 18-year-old.
-He won an Atlantic 10 Championship, a Conference Player of the Year award and a trip to the NCAA Tournament as super-senior with Virginia Commonwealth University.
-He is a do-it-all 6-foot-5 combo with a feel for the game and is equally productive on and off the ball.
- He can create separation with spin moves and crafty footwork
- Shulga was at the heart of one of the most aggressive teams in the country, which ranked in the top 5 in defensive efficiency.

I think this guy will overcome his "unathletic" label just as Payton has proven his "too small" wrong.

He is athletic enough. 2:08 mark and 2:47 mark on the highlights below shows that. He is no high flyer but I wouldn't call him unathletic either.

Watch on YouTube

[Dogen]

Steve Kerr.

Steve was the 50th pick in the 1988 draft.

Work on that 3 ball Max!

[cloverleaf]

Steve Kerr.

Steve was the 50th pick in the 1988 draft.

Work on that 3 ball Max!

I think he's pretty much got the 3 ball down.

[Dogen]

Steve Kerr.

Steve was the 50th pick in the 1988 draft.

Work on that 3 ball Max!

I think he's pretty much got the 3 ball down.

not like Steve Kerr he don't!

Just making the comparison due to his overall size and skill, although Max is actually a bit taller. Kerr played 15 years in the league, without having much athleticism, but he was clutch.

Shulga has the potential (like all young promising players), and he'll need to be absolutely exceptional with that deep shooting in order to stick around. Stay in the gym with Pritchard and heat up that clutch gene.

[Fencer reregistered]

It seems like multiple articles have said that he went so late because, even though he's a great shooter, he's seen as a lousy defender -- but actually he's not really bad on defense at all.

[sam_I_am]

I heard Brad tried to give him a 2 way contract last year. The Celtics have been watching him some time. That makes me more hopeful than I would normally be for a late second rounder.

[165bows]

I heard Brad tried to give him a 2 way contract last year. The Celtics have been watching him some time. That makes me more hopeful than I would normally be for a late second rounder.

6'5" combo guard is like Brad's version of tall, blond and athletic.

[31to6]

It seems like multiple articles have said that he went so late because, even though he's a great shooter, he's seen as a lousy defender -- but actually he's not really bad on defense at all.

But but his skin tone:)

[31to6]

I heard Brad tried to give him a 2 way contract last year. The Celtics have been watching him some time. That makes me more hopeful than I would normally be for a late second rounder.

Curious about this: Brad tried to give a college player a 2 way deal? Like: declare for the draft and we’ll sign you UDFA?

[sam_I_am]

I heard Brad tried to give him a 2 way contract last year. The Celtics have been watching him some time. That makes me more hopeful than I would normally be for a late second rounder.

Curious about this: Brad tried to give a college player a 2 way deal? Like: declare for the draft and we’ll sign you UDFA?

He played 5 years in college so maybe he was eligible. Anyway, I heard it on a podcast so could be BS

[cloverleaf]

He sounds and looks like a cross between PP and KP:

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=CLNSMediaBostonSportsNetwork

[Hal14]

It seems like multiple articles have said that he went so late because, even though he's a great shooter, he's seen as a lousy defender -- but actually he's not really bad on defense at all.

He probably went that late because he's a 5 year college player who played all 5 seasons in a mid major conference, has meh size for a non-PG and meh athleticism.

I'm not sure if there's a player in the NBA right now who fits that description. Closest ones are John Konchar but he had more athleticism and only played 4 yrs of college ball..Caleb Martin but he had more size and athleticism. Brandin Podziemski but he was like 3 years younger..only played 2 years of college ball..

Not saying he can't make it. It's possible..but late 2nd round (or MAYBE mid 2nd round) is where he should have gone imo.

[165bows]

It seems like multiple articles have said that he went so late because, even though he's a great shooter, he's seen as a lousy defender -- but actually he's not really bad on defense at all.

He probably went that late because he's a 5 year college player who played all 5 seasons in a mid major conference, has meh size for a non-PG and meh athleticism.

I'm not sure if there's a player in the NBA right now who fits that description. Closest ones are John Konchar but he had more athleticism and only played 4 yrs of college ball..Caleb Martin but he had more size and athleticism. Brandin Podziemski but he was like 3 years younger..only played 2 years of college ball..

Not saying he can't make it. It's possible..but late 2nd round (or MAYBE mid 2nd round) is where he should have gone imo.

That's just an artificial distinction - very few guys until recently have played 5 years of college ball since they were only allowed to play 4 years of college ball.

There's plenty of guys similar to Shulga, eg Strus, Sam Merrill, Ty Jerome who just made bank at that same profile of a 6' 5" SG.

[Hal14]

It seems like multiple articles have said that he went so late because, even though he's a great shooter, he's seen as a lousy defender -- but actually he's not really bad on defense at all.

He probably went that late because he's a 5 year college player who played all 5 seasons in a mid major conference, has meh size for a non-PG and meh athleticism.

I'm not sure if there's a player in the NBA right now who fits that description. Closest ones are John Konchar but he had more athleticism and only played 4 yrs of college ball..Caleb Martin but he had more size and athleticism. Brandin Podziemski but he was like 3 years younger..only played 2 years of college ball..

Not saying he can't make it. It's possible..but late 2nd round (or MAYBE mid 2nd round) is where he should have gone imo.

That's just an artificial distinction - very few guys until recently have played 5 years of college ball since they were only allowed to play 4 years of college ball.

There's plenty of guys similar to Shulga, eg Strus, Sam Merrill, Ty Jerome who just made bank at that same profile of a 6' 5" SG.

But if Shulga was good enough, he would have gotten drafted after 4 years and wouldn't have stayed a 5th year.

Strus played in a high major conference. He was also more athletic (13 dunks to 3 for Shulga). Jerome only played 3 years of college ball and was in a high major conference. Merrill played just 4 years of college ball - I suppose he's the closest to Shulga but that's hardly "plenty" of guys..Merrill was also the 60th pick in the draft. He's done well in the NBA but for every Sam Merrill there's 10+ guys like that who didn't make it or even get drafted.

[165bows]

He probably went that late because he's a 5 year college player who played all 5 seasons in a mid major conference, has meh size for a non-PG and meh athleticism.

I'm not sure if there's a player in the NBA right now who fits that description. Closest ones are John Konchar but he had more athleticism and only played 4 yrs of college ball..Caleb Martin but he had more size and athleticism. Brandin Podziemski but he was like 3 years younger..only played 2 years of college ball..

Not saying he can't make it. It's possible..but late 2nd round (or MAYBE mid 2nd round) is where he should have gone imo.

That's just an artificial distinction - very few guys until recently have played 5 years of college ball since they were only allowed to play 4 years of college ball.

There's plenty of guys similar to Shulga, eg Strus, Sam Merrill, Ty Jerome who just made bank at that same profile of a 6' 5" SG.

But if Shulga was good enough, he would have gotten drafted after 4 years and wouldn't have stayed a 5th year.

Strus played in a high major conference. He was also more athletic (13 dunks to 3 for Shulga). Jerome only played 3 years of college ball and was in a high major conference. Merrill played just 4 years of college ball - I suppose he's the closest to Shulga but that's hardly "plenty" of guys..Merrill was also the 60th pick in the draft. He's done well in the NBA but for every Sam Merrill there's 10+ guys like that who didn't make it or even get drafted.

Wasn’t it just reported the Celtics wanted to give him a two way last year? These just aren’t relevant comparisons since the college landscape is totally different than it was.

It’s just irrelevant in a bunch of ways since it’s almost a guarantee they will have this guy playing point in Maine.

[cloverleaf]

It seems like multiple articles have said that he went so late because, even though he's a great shooter, he's seen as a lousy defender -- but actually he's not really bad on defense at all.

He probably went that late because he's a 5 year college player who played all 5 seasons in a mid major conference, has meh size for a non-PG and meh athleticism.

I'm not sure if there's a player in the NBA right now who fits that description. Closest ones are John Konchar but he had more athleticism and only played 4 yrs of college ball..Caleb Martin but he had more size and athleticism. Brandin Podziemski but he was like 3 years younger..only played 2 years of college ball..

Not saying he can't make it. It's possible..but late 2nd round (or MAYBE mid 2nd round) is where he should have gone imo.

He's a decent-sized combo guard who plays D and has a reliable 3. There's plenty of room in the league for that.

But the two Maxes are about the same size. Strus didn't get drafted and though he may have a little more bounce, he doesn't have our Max's headiness or handles--or crazy motor.