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Boston Celtics: R.J. Hunter Making Most Of Summer League

By Eric Laboissonniere

Jan 24, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia State Panthers guard R.J. Hunter (22) is honored before the game after tying the all-time scoring record at Georgia State previously held by Rodney Hamilton, right, as coach Ron Hunter, R.J.
Jan 24, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia State Panthers guard R.J. Hunter (22) is honored before the game after tying the all-time scoring record at Georgia State previously held by Rodney Hamilton, right, as coach Ron Hunter, R.J. /
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People obviously remember R.J. Hunter as the leader of a mid-major team that became a Cinderella story during the 2015 NCAA tournament, but his story and chapter as a basketball player is far from over. The Boston Celtics selected Hunter in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft, with high hopes that Hunter could become a sharpshooter on a team that desperately needs shooting.

The Celtics have found a player with the potential to be much more than just a sharpshooter after seeing Hunter play during the Summer League.

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Hunter did not have the most ideal start to his NBA career by not scoring a single basket in his first two Summer League games in Utah, but ever since the game against the Spurs on July 9, Hunter has been on a tear. In that game against the Spurs, Hunter had 18 points and he did not miss a free throw or three-point shot that game.

In his next game he recorded 13 points, and then in his most recent game; he recorded 21 points. Hunter is not going to fill the box score in many categories other than scoring stats, but he has even been impressive on the defensive end. He has a great wingspan that is about 6-foot-10, and he has good speed to cover guards and some small forwards.

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Hunter has been showing his true potential during his stint in Summer League, but he must put on more weight if he wants to have a long career in the NBA, especially for his position. Hunter also seems to be a little inefficient shooting the basketball, but that is something that he can improve on because he has a fantastic shooting stroke with a very quick release.

Celtics’ fans ought to be excited about Hunter and even though it might take a little time for him to really make an impact on the Celtics, he should be able to play some meaningful minutes for the Celtics next season. Hunter should be able to come off the bench during the season and hit some long distance jumpers and create his own shot, without much help.

He can flat out score and he has unlimited range, which is great news for the Celtics and bad news for opposing teams.

Summer League never seems to be a big deal, but it is where almost every great NBA player got their start, even players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Almost everyone starts their NBA career in Summer League, which means that any Summer Leaguer can be the next superstar.

So do not say Summer League means nothing because it means a lot to the NBA and the players who are trying to prove they can play in the league.

Overall, Hunter has been very impressive during his stint in Summer League and he has should be able to make a positive, and meaningful impact on the Celtics during the upcoming season. Hunter was a steal at pick no. 28 in the first round for the Celtics, which something that should make coach Brad Stevens and general manager Danny Ainge more than happy.

And one more thing; Hunter is not afraid of any moment or shot, as shown in the video below, enjoy.

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