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Josh Minott #8 of the Boston Celtics reacts as he walks off of the court after a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the TD Garden on December 05, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.
For a nine-game stretch in late October and early November, Celtics forward Josh Minott not only found his way into the rotation for Boston, he found himself with a spot in the starting five–the first games he had started in his four-year NBA career. Minott averaged 8.4 points and 6.7 rebounds in that span, and posted a career-high 21 points against the Wizards on November 5.
But that was as good as it got for Minott, at least so far this year. He was bumped from the starting five by wing Jordan Walsh and has seen his playing time gradually decrease in the weeks since. And now, in the Celtics’ last three games–with Walsh starting, and Anfernee Simons and rookie Hugo Gonzalez getting most of the bench minutes, Minott is not playing at all.
Celtics Want Josh Minott to ‘Keep Getting Better’
Asked about Minott’s string of DNPs, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said it is up to Minott to stay ready when his opportunity arises, and keep improving to work his way back into the rotation. The Celtics have won five of their last six, so there is not much incentive for Mazzulla to change things up just yet.
Minott, on the season, is averaging 6.6 points and 4.1 rebounds, shooting 50.8% from the field and 44.4% from the 3-point line.
“Just like everyone else, continue to keep getting better and better,” Mazzulla said. “Having an understanding of the details of execution, things that go into the process of winning. That’s not an individual thing. That’s happened to almost everyone. Luka [Garza has] missed a few. He’s done a great job coming back. So just continue to get better and better and at the same time know anybody can impact the game at any time.”
GettyBoston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla looks on from the bench during the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at TD Garden.
Derrick White Makes History for Celtics
In racking up a big win over the Jazz to get back on the winning track on their five-game road trip to Indiana, followed by four Western Conference cellar-dwellers, the Celtics saw guard Derrick White make NBA history with seven blocked shots, the most for a guard. White also had 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Said Mazzulla: “I think a couple of them came on-ball, a couple of them came off-ball. This year, his role has grown. Tonight, when we went Derrick, Payton (Pritchard), Anfernee (Simons) and Jaylen (Brown), he has to guard the other team’s best players. So he got a couple on pick-and-rolls, on pull-up 3s.
“At the beginning of the game, when he’s kind of roaming and guys he can shift off of, he does a good job of knowing when to help and knowing when to not. Just his defensive versatility. But obviously, he was great tonight, as well.”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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