Power of positivity

Waters handling life well as a twoway player

BOSTON — Tremont Waters sat in front of his locker, in the corner of the Boston Celtics’ locker room on Friday afternoon, trading quips and goodnatured jabs with a few of his current (for now) teammates.

“They’re all a good group of guys,” Waters, the New Haven native, said afterwards. “We were just laughing and joking right now, just kicking it, because we haven’t seen each other in a while.”

The Celtics are Waters’ onagain, offagain teammates. Selected by Boston late in the second round of the 2019 NBA draft in June, Waters developed a strong rapport with his fellow rookie class members — Romeo Langford, Grant Williams, Carsen Edwards, Tacko Fall — during summer league and training camp. In fact, by the end of camp this past summer, the entire team seemed a remarkably closeknit group.

But when camp broke, Waters found himself with the Maine Red Claws — the Celtics’ affiliate in the NBA G League. And that’s where he’s spent most of this season.

Waters got called up to the Celtics on Nov. 24, with starting point guard Kemba Walker suffering a neck sprain, and immediately delivered. The 5foot10 point guard supplied his usual nifty playmaking, aggressive defense and energy — along with seven points, three assists, two blocks and a steal in 20 minutes — in the Celts’ 103102 win over Sacramento on Nov. 25.

“It was a good experience,” he recalled on Friday. “I didn’t think too much of it, because I know I still have a long way to go. But it was definitely fulfilling to know that I’m able to play at this level and put a stamp on what I already knew, and what obviously the Celtics knew.”

His reward? A trip back down to Maine the following day. Such is the life for a player on a twoway contract.

“Like I always say, I take it one day at a time, don’t try to think about it too much,” Waters said. “I’m just trying to keep focus on doing what I’ve got to do, really.”

“I think he handles it pretty well,” added Edwards. “I’ve learned a lot from him as a player and a person. He’s a good dude to be around.”

Waters has been sensational all season with Maine, earning GLeague Player of the Month honors for November after aver

aging 22.3 points, 7.7 assists and 1.9 steals over seven games. He’s averaging 20.1 points and 7.5 assists overall and earned a second callup to Boston the day before Christmas, logging three minutes in a Christmas Day win over Toronto.

On Friday at TD Banknorth Garden, Waters made the most of his five minutes of garbage time at the end of Boston’s 129117 win over Cleveland. He popped off the bench and quickly drained a 3pointer, got burned a couple of times trying to guard 6foot6 mismatch Kevin Porter, Jr., then knocked

down another jumper in the final minute.

“He’s a great player,” said Edwards, who recently was also Waters’ teammate in Maine. “He’s smart, knows the game well. I think he brings a lot of energy. He handles the ball well, he sees people, he can score at his own pace. His I.Q. as a player is really high, so I think that brings a lot to the team.”

The question is, what team? The Celtics? The Red Claws? Another NBA team? As a twoway player, Waters can’t spend more than 45 days with the Celtics. But he is generating significant buzz among scouts, to the point where he could be an attractive trade chip for the Celtics to

acquire some muchneeded frontcourt depth.

But Waters isn’t worrying about any of that right now, only on what he can control, which is his play on the floor. Indeed, after starring at South Kent Prep, then Notre DameWest Haven, then two seasons at LSU, Tremont Waters is trying to carve out a new chapter in his life. His mom, Vanessa, his cousin and his brothers have been to his games. Otherwise, Waters hasn’t kept a whole lot of connections to his New Haven roots.

“It’s a new page,” he said.

He also doesn’t want to talk about his father’s suicide back in July. It is something his teammates

have helped him get through.

“The best way to approach it was just to be there for him,” said Edwards. “Whenever he needed someone to talk to, I didn’t want to invade his privacy or anything. I just kind of wanted to be there for him. If he needed someone to talk to or listen to him, I tried to be there. I try to be there for everyone like that.”

One day at a time. That’s how Tremont Waters is handling things these days. All with a positive outlook.

“Everything,” he promised, “is gonna take care of itself.”

Winslow Townson / Associated Press Tremont Waters has made the most of his few opportunities with the Celtics so far this season.

Winslow Townson / Associated Press The Celtics’ Tremont Waters is congratulated by teammates after coming out of a game against the Kings earlier this season.