Celtics veterans raved about new Rockets guard JD Davison

USA Today

27-07-2025

Celtics guard Derrick White on JD Davison: 'The way he manipulates the defense in the pick-and-roll is really high-level. Playing against him a lot in training camp, he was a hard guard.'
Rockets guard JD Davison, who recently signed with Houston on a two-way deal, has played only sparingly in the NBA since being drafted in the 2022 second round.
He's flourished in the NBA G League, where Davison won Most Valuable Player (MVP) last season while playing for the Maine Celtics (Boston affiliate). But based on the roster strength of the 2024 NBA champions, the 22-year-old never got an extended opportunity at the highest level.
Yet, in practices and training camp appearances with the Celtics, the 6-foot-3 point guard clearly did enough to turn heads.
'You could tell he took it to another level in training camp,' All-Star guard Jaylen Brown told SB Nation's CelticsBlog. 'I think he's been able to learn from our guys, going against Payton [Pritchard], going against Jrue [Holiday], and Derrick [White].'
'He's gotten so much better, and that's credit to him. He's developed at a high rate.'
Brown is far from alone in that assessment. From that same CelticsBlog story, published in April 2025, here's what some of his veteran Celtics teammates had to say.
Al Horford:
JD is a really good passer, and he has a really good feel for the game, especially when he's playing pick-and-roll. He's a real guard. He's able to kind of manipulate the defense. And then his ability to get to the basket, he's really explosive. ...
When you come in here as a young player, or a guy that's trying to be on this team, you understand that you have to put in the work. And I think JD gets it.
Derrick White:
JD is probably our best lob thrower, just the way he manipulates the defense in the pick-and-roll is really high-level. Playing against him a lot in training camp, he was a hard guard.
Jrue Holiday:
You can tell anytime he comes back (from the G League), and we throw him out there — he's so comfortable. He fits right in. ... He's definitely going to be a really good NBA player.
Horford told CelticsBlog that he views Davison's most NBA-ready skills as his playmaking and ability to get to the rim.
'He feels like Davison has grown increasingly comfortable with the parent club and that he's continued to commit to the everyday grind — lifting, his shooting times, and everything else that goes into getting better,' Noa Dalzell wrote of Horford.
Davison was only available because Boston had to waive him this offseason in order to get underneath the second apron of the NBA's luxury tax.
Yet, despite all that praise, it's far from a given that Davison will play with the Rockets. Houston has a deep roster and expects to contend for the 2025-26 NBA championship, and the plan is to give second-year guard Reed Sheppard every opportunity to be the backup point guard behind Fred VanVleet. As the No. 3 overall draft pick from the 2024 first round, Sheppard has significant pedigree and perceived upside.
But if the Kentucky product underwhelms in training camp or early in the season, Davison and veteran Aaron Holiday are useful insurance policies for head coach Ime Udoka and general manager Rafael Stone.
Among qualifying G League players last season, Davison ranked second in scoring (25.1 points) and fourth in assists (7.5) on a per-game basis.
More: Rockets sign JD Davison, Isaiah Crawford to two-way contracts