Sam Hauser has a chance to carve out a significant role with the Boston Celtics during the 2022-23 NBA season.
The University of Virginia product will look to give the C's bench the scoring boost it lacked for much of last year's campaign. Boston will hope his preseason performance is a harbinger of what's to come as he has shot 12-for-20 from 3-point range through three games.
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While Hauser has given Celtics fans a glimpse of his potential, the 24-year-old is only scraping the surface. On a new episode of the Celtics Talk Podcast with Chris Forsberg, UVA head coach Tony Bennett discussed what makes Hauser such a promising player and which parts of his game have yet to be put on display.
Celtics Talk: UVA's Tony Bennett on reinvigorated Malcolm Brogdon: "He wants to win" | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube
"He's such a smart player," Bennett said. "And in discussions I've had with Brad Stevens about him, he just said there is always an adjustment. High school to college, of course college to the NBA. But he knows angles, he's smart, he's just deceptive. Whatever he doesn't have maybe pure athleticism-wise, he makes up for it with angles and his mind. That's important. He thinks quick and he's continuous. He has the component of being tough physically and tough-minded."
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C's fans can expect plenty of 3s from Hauser this season, but Bennett stresses his former player is far from one-dimensional.
"Sam is more than just a shooter," he said. "He passes the ball well, he sees things. His game is understated and there's a completeness there. He's not going to be your point guard, but there's a completeness there with how he'll see things, how he'll pass, how he'll always be in the right spots. And then defensively, you always have to answer that question. The ability to slide and keep people in front but always be in the right position. As he continues to adjust and improve on that, then you get a guy who's dangerous.
"You see guys around the league that have huge impacts on the right kind of team, and I think Boston's the right kind of team for Sam's strengths. His liabilities or his deficiencies, they're not as big as you think and I think he'll cover those up and surprise people."
Also discussed in the episode: Will Malcolm Brogdon embrace the sixth-man role? UVA's Tony Bennett recalls playing against Kevin McHale in his final NBA game. And an exclusive 1-on-1 with Brogdon.
Check out the latest episode of the Celtics Talk Podcast on the NBC Sports Boston Podcast Network or watch it on YouTube below.