Celtics two-way player Tremont Waters has been named the NBA G League Rookie of the Year for the 2019/20 season, the league announced today in a press release.
The 51st overall pick in the 2019 draft, Waters didn’t receive the attention from media and fans that fellow Celtics two-way player Tacko Fall did, but the former LSU guard thrived in his first professional season.
In addition to appearing in 10 games for Boston, Waters was Maine’s starting point guard for 36 games, averaging 18.0 PPG, 7.3 APG, 3.2 RPG, and 2.0 SPG with a shooting line of .429/.354/.780 in 33.8 minutes per contest. He helped lead the Red Claws to a 28-14 record, good for third in the NBAGL’s Eastern Conference.
Previous NBA G League Rookies of the Year don’t necessarily have a lengthy track record of eventual NBA success, but several recent recipients of the award have become rotation players at the NBA level, including Quinn Cook, Abdel Nader, Tim Frazier, and especially Robert Covington.
Waters beat out Jarrell Brantley and Devontae Cacok, who finished second and third, respectively, in the NBAGL Rookie of the Year vote. Brantley plays for the Salt Lake City Stars, the Jazz‘s affiliate, while Cacok is a member of the South Bay Lakers.
Good on him for winning this. His dad committed suicide last year, and the kid honored him in a big way.
Good player who may have a chance to crack the roster as a backup guard next season. The C’s have another 3 first rounders this year and need a few bigs, but if they draft a guard, there is no place for waters.
To make backup PG, Waters is going to need to beat out not only Wanamaker, which he should, but also Romeo Langford, who should also be looked at at the PG position, not a wing. Carsen Edwards, I don’t think will be much competition.
Man I get where you at about Edwards, but if he gets a chance to drop 3s the way he can he could be a pretty solid 4th option. That’s a HUGE if.
Langford at the 1 and Edwards at the 2 offensively makes sense given their most confident college style. They can always switch on D. Celts should try that in the GL, that’s what it’s there for.
Man I get where you at about Edwards, but if he gets a chance to drop 3s the way he can he could be a pretty solid 4th option. That’s a HUGE if.
Josiah Gray? Man, he should of received some recognition.