BOSTON – Growing up in the shadow of older, athletically accomplished siblings, Boston Celtics big man Jared Sullinger knows a thing or two about fighting for attention.
There are many paths to take to get recognized by others, but Sullinger knows the best way is to let your body of work speak for itself.
From there, the attention will come.
That has in many ways been the narrative to this season for the fourth-year forward, one of the more under-rated keys to Boston’s success this season. Isaiah Thomas emerged as an all-star this season. Jae Crowder has cashed in on his first chance to play significant minutes in the NBA. And then there’s the always-steady Avery Bradley and the impactful Marcus Smart … and Evan Turner and …
It’s easy for the job that Sullinger has done this season to get lost in the shuffle. But make no mistake. Sullinger’s play has been crucial to Boston’s success as he puts up rebounding numbers that this franchise hasn’t seen since Kevin Garnett called Boston home.
The 6-foot-9 Sullinger, who began the season out of the team’s regular rotation, is averaging 10.2 points and a team-leading 8.6 rebounds per game. He has been particularly strong in Boston’s last seven games, averaging a double-double of 12.6 points and 10.4 rebounds while shooting 48.9 percent from the field.
Sullinger’s numbers are indeed on the rise. But he has maintained that his focus has been on winning games above all else despite being in a contract year. Coming out of high school, Sullinger was among the highest rated players in the country. He put up All-America type numbers but more than anything else, he played for AAU teams that won a lot of games and that he believes was the key to him being such a sought-after prep star.
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“I kind of came out of nowhere (in high school), came into my own,” Sullinger said. And as far as being in a contract year, he added, “The more you win, it just takes care of itself.”
The Celtics (35-25) currently have the third-best record in the Eastern Conference following Saturday’s 101-89 win over Miami, who now trails Boston by two games. The victory also gave Boston the head-to-head series over the Heat, which could come into play if the two finished the regular season with an identical record.
Sullinger’s numbers against the Heat (12 points, 12 rebounds) weren’t overly impressive, but it was a performance that ranks among his best this season in terms of making big plays that were impactful to winning.
And he did it in a multitude of ways, whether it was finding Marcus Smart cutting to the basket for an easy lay-up, or snatching a rebound literally out of the hands of a Heat player, which led to a Celtics basket.
While his numbers on the season aren’t off the charts, Sullinger has had the kind of season thus far that bodes well for his chances of landing a lucrative, multi-year deal when he becomes a restricted free agent this summer. The Celtics certainly have interest in bringing him back, but it remains to be seen just how much it will cost to retain him.
Some have wondered whether Sullinger might be open to a change of scenery, an opportunity with another team that might allow him to expand his game even more. But for now, it sounds as though Sullinger wants to remain with the Celtics for many years to come.
“My oldest brother always told me the worst thing that happens to me is change; I don’t handle change well,” Sullinger said. “I strongly disagree. Sometimes you just don’t want to change the scenery. When you play for the greatest franchise in the NBA and you see all those banners and all the fans come at you, you don’t want to leave that place. You know it’s a special place in your heart. It’s the first team I played for in the NBA and hopefully it’ll be the last.”