Second-year guard James Young was the only Boston Celtics player dressed for Friday’s blowout win over Washington who did not play. Celtics coach Brad Stevens explained why prior to Sunday’s game against Orlando.
“He told me his shoulder hurt and he couldn’t go,” said Stevens who added that he tried to put Young in with about six minutes to play.
Stevens said Young went through rehab that day and the following morning. And when the team resumed practicing, Stevens said Young “didn’t go full speed (Saturday).”
Young will be available to play tonight for the Celtics.
His time in Boston, albeit short, hasn’t gone the way most anticipated when the Celtics tabbed him with the 17th pick on draft night in 2014. Young was expected by most to be drafted sooner, so the Celtics felt there once again getting a draft night steal.
But the 20-year-old Young has not made the kind of impact many anticipated. He’s even further down the depth chart this season with rookie R.J. Hunter moving ahead of him in the team’s pecking order.
This season, Young has appeared in just three games while averaging 1.5 points per game. As a rookie last season, he appeared in 31 games and averaged 3.4 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.