The Boston Celtics found another diamond in the rough during Summer League last year in versatile guard Jay Scrubb. He averaged 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game on 46/40/78 shooting splits. They signed him to a two-way contract by the end of the Summer League.
Unfortunately, Scrubb tore his ACL in October after falling clumsily on a dunk attempt in a training camp practice, leading the Celtics to waive him off the roster after needing season ending surgery. GM Brad Stevens told Scrubb that the team would help him rehab and their facilities would be available for him despite not being under contract.
Scrubb later said that being around the Celtics helped motivate him to get back on the court and with the mental aspect of not being able to play for a while. He said that he still felt like he was part of the team.
“Even though I wasn’t on the deal, I still felt like I was a part of the team, because I was there and the relationships I built and just being there, you still feel like you’re part of the organization. That gave me the motivation to want to get back and be there with those guys… The mental part, being away from the game for the first time just crushed me, I didn’t really know how to feel, but having the support, it really takes over. That really brought me back… it’s tough physically, but the harder you work, the more you build yourself up to better yourself.”
Scrubb was at the top of his game. The rehab took longer than expected, but he said he’s at 80 percent and the Celtics told him that he’d be invited to join them at training camp if he was ready and cleared to do so.
One year later, Scrubb is signed with Boston on an Exhibit-10 deal and will join the team in training camp. He will have the opportunity to continue pursuing his NBA career and maybe show enough to earn a G League contract with the Maine Celtics.
Boston doesn’t have any available two-way contracts left to distribute, but there is still one more spot on their 15-man roster. It would be a reach to suggest that Scrubb could earn it at this point in his recovery as he’s attempting to make a comeback, but he would be an eligible player that Boston can fit in financially if they think he’s worth the roster spot.
It’s worth mentioning that Oshae Brissett said recently that the door is still left open for him to return to Boston, but he wants to play more than they can offer him. Someone like Scrubb might not mind so much about a lack of court time as he’s still trying to get himself back into rhythm.
Scrubb can easily be back in Maine, but it’s an interesting thought to have considering all of the financial limitations Boston has to work with this season.
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One response to “Boston Celtics sign familiar face to training camp”
[…] Jay Scrubb signed an Exhibit-10 contract to join the Celtics for training camp as he continues his pursuit to the NBA. He was on a promising path before he tore his ACL last October in practice. […]
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