October 5, 2024
Aaron Nesmith noticed a Bleacher Report put up poking enjoyable at Celtics commerce. He’s taking it personally.

Celtics

“It is what makes me drive to the fitness center at evening. Seeing that tweet is at all times on my thoughts for positive.”

Aaron Nesmith AP Picture/Michael Conroy
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After the Celtics dealt Aaron Nesmith to Indiana as a part of the Malcolm Brodgon commerce, Bleacher Report tweeted an image of the Nickelodeon character Spongebob holding a paperclip and a chunk of string.

“What the Celtics gave up for Brodgon,” the tweet’s caption learn.

The Celtics traded Nesmith, together with Daniel Theis, Nik Stauskas, Malik Fitts, Juwan Morgan and a first-round choose to Indiana in alternate for Brogdon.

Nesmith addressed the tweet earlier than Wednesday evening’s sport in opposition to the Celtics, saying that he’s utilizing it as motivation.

“As quickly because the commerce occurred I noticed the tweet and I saved it instantly,” Nesmith mentioned in a video posted by CLNS Media. “I’m somebody that takes issues personally and I believe that helps make me higher. It’s what makes me drive to the fitness center at evening. Seeing that tweet is at all times on my thoughts for positive.”

The previous Celtics first-round choose is averaging a career-high 26.7 minutes per sport by three video games this season. He’s taking pictures 52 % from the sector and 43 % from 3-point vary.

Nesmith’s taking pictures capability was one of many qualities that stood out about his sport when he was in school at Vanderbilt.

However, he’s developed into one of many Pacers’ greatest defensive gamers as nicely, in keeping with Pacers coach Rick Carlisle.

“Lloyd Pierce, my lead assistant actually has executed an amazing job with with Aaron,” Carlisle mentioned. “You realize, serving to him adapt. He’s been, he’s been one among our greatest defensive gamers. Clearly, everyone knows he can shoot the ball very well, and he’s developed different components of his sport. He drives it now. He’s making actually good easy reads and an important a part of what we’re doing right here.”

Carlisle described Nesmith as an “edgy competitor” who has taken benefit of the elevated minutes. He acknowledged that there wasn’t a lot taking part in time obtainable for Nesmith in Boston earlier than he was despatched to Indiana within the deal that introduced Malcolm Brogdon to the Celtics.

Nesmith began 4 video games in two seasons with the Celtics and averaged lower than quarter-hour per sport.

“There wasn’t a number of time for him to play. And in order that was difficult,” Carlisle mentioned. “So when he would get in for brief stints, you realize, it’s robust. I used to be a kind of gamers that regularly was in that state of affairs. And, you realize, it’s, it’s one of the vital difficult issues, however he’s clearly a man that has taken benefit of an incredible alternative with us. He actually matches our group.”

Celtics coach Mazzulla mentioned that gamers don’t get to select the conditions they’re drafted into and that gamers take totally different quantities of time to develop.

Typically it might take one yr for a participant to search out their area of interest, typically it might take a number of years, Mazzulla mentioned.

“Aaron, whatever the circumstances, introduced it each single day,” Mazzulla mentioned. “And also you’re seeing sort of the fruits of that labor. I’m actually blissful for him and he deserves it.”