The reality of the situation hasnt sunk in yet for Greg Stiemsma.
His first NBA season still has that new car feel to it. Hes been riding it since December, but to him it seems like he just got in.
Yet over the past five months, Stiemsma has established himself as a key member of the Boston Celtics bench, backing up Kevin Garnett and giving the team a defensively-focused big man whos always on the prowl for his next shot blocking opportunity.
Its still hard to wrap my mind around completely, he told CSNNE.com. Even this whole season, it still hasnt really set in, like what the magnitude of this is, what this actually means. Kind of like the I made it kind of feeling, this is it, youve kind of made it . . . I dont know when that feeling is going to set in, if it will. But its definitely a long ways away from where I was just not too long ago.
Stiemsma joined the Celtics in December as a training camp invitee. The Cs already had a starting center in Jermaine ONeal, and Chris Wilcox subbed in off the bench. But Stiemsma showed potential and made the squad, ending this long journey through Europe and the NBA Development League to reach his goal of making an NBA team.
At 26 years old, the 6-foot-11 center began seeing his years of hard work pay off.
Even that first flight, we were flying to New York for the Christmas Day game, Stiemsma recalled. Im looking around, were on this big jet with the Celtics. And then coming out of the tunnel here the first time, and even every time, I kind of remind myself, Im following Paul Pierce on to the court and hes about to play as my teammate. Its not just sitting here watching him on TV. Im part of this.
Boston Celtics
Stiemsma was thrown into his first season at full speed with an abbreviated training camp and scarce practice time during a condensed season. He picked up whatever he could learn from his teammates without being on the court.
I was surprised by how close attention everybody pays to detail, he said. I figured there would be a lot of specifics coming in, but just the level of every night, especially this season, it could become easy to think, 'This game doesnt really mean as much tonight when you play back-to-back-to-back-to-back.' Every time we step on the floor, its like weve got to be geared up and do those little things to be able to win.
As a rookie on a veteran squad, Stiemsma saw limited playing time in the first half of the season. He averaged less than eight minutes a game in January and February, going through the rookie ups-and-downs. The Celtics also struggled during that stretch, hitting five-game losing skids during each month. Stiemsma felt frustratednot because he wasnt getting the opportunity to play, but because he wanted to help his team win.
The most challenging part of the season was probably for that stretch there when I wasnt playing well so I wasnt getting many minutes, he said. We had a full roster, and I didnt wish anything bad for those guys. I was trying to fit in and find a spot. It always hurts to lose. We were losing during that stretch. Not that I felt like I could have won the game, but I felt like I was missing out on doing something to help the team.
The landscape of the Celtics front court quickly changed. In March, the team lost both ONeal (wrist) and Wilcox (cardiac) to season-ending surgeries. Garnett transitioned to the starting center role, bumping Stiemsma up in the rotation as first big man off the bench.
While Stiemsma was stepping in for his sidelined teammates, he was no stranger to injuries, either. But after making it this far, he wasnt going to let a bone bruise, foot sprain, or plantar fasciitis hold him back. In fact, it was playing through an injury that made Stiemsma realize how far he had come.
He cites a March 11 game against the Los Angeles Lakers as the moment he realized he could stick in the NBA. Coming off a foot sprain, he grabbed four rebounds and blocked three shots in 14 minutes.
To go out there and play pretty well on a pretty big stage, I was like, well, maybe I can play this, he said. This isnt a fluke or whatever.
Stiemsma also discovered he was mentally stronger than he thought he was. As a student-athlete at the University of Wisconsin, he battled with depression after facing injuries and academic ineligibility. This time around, though, he did not let injuries or limited playing time get him down.
I tried to take the big picture, he said. I still realize that even though its frustrating, its still better than any other situation Ive been in. That was the biggest thing, just taking a step back with where you are . . . You think about it (college) from time to time. I havent felt like that in a really long time, so I dont really worry about it too much. Overall my life is good so its hard to even look at the other stuff.
By the end of the regular season, Stiemsma averaged 19.6 minutes in April, posting 4.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game during the month. He ranked second among all rookies (17th among all players) this season with 1.55 blocks per game and first with 5.32 blocks per 48 minutes.
With his increased performance has come an increase in popularity as well. Stiemsma grew up in the village of Randolph, Wisconsin, with a population of less than 2,000 people. Now he has become a public face in the city of Boston. He also signed a sneaker deal with Nike and has a recurring radio appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hubs Toucher & Rich show.
Im kind of an under-the-radar kind of guy, he said. Im just trying to blend in, but obviously I guess I maybe underestimated the fans in Boston a little bit. Most people here love the Celtics and love their sports teams, so its one of those good surprises. Its been an enjoyable surprise.
Here, we get noticed. When I played in Europe, even in some of the bigger cities, people would come to the games but its like, you go to the mall and people just recognize you because youre tall and American, not because you play for a team. Here, people are like, Oh, youre a Celtic. Then they say, How do you pronounce your last name? (laughs) I get that one a lot. But its been fun, its been great.
Stiemsma admits he wasnt sure if hed make the Celtics roster during training camp. There was also the uncertainty of whether or not the Cs would guarantee his contract during the season. He hopes to return to Boston next season, and for now his main focus is helping the Celtics in the playoffs.
Maybe the I made it moment will hit Stiemsma during postseason. Or perhaps it will be when he returns home to Wisconsin this summer. Theres also the chance it never occurs and playing in the pros simply becomes part of his life.
Whether or not it ever happens, Stiemsma has already proved he can make it in the NBA.
I had doubts at times when I didnt know if I could play in the NBA, he said. I just kind of proved it to myself and I proved to everyone else that all this hard work that I put in, all the times that I said, Okay, Ive got to keep at it, all the things Ive been telling myself have kind of been coming true.