The Lawnmower - Josh Minott

The Boston Celtics' early-season struggles have unexpectedly opened the door for Josh Minott to seize a starting role. After head coach Joe Mazzulla shuffled through several options in the starting lineup's fifth spot, Minott earned his first career start against the New Orleans Pelicans and delivered an impressive performance with 15 points, nine rebounds, one steal, and one block in a 122-90 victory. Even more remarkable, Boston outscored New Orleans by 42 points across Minott's 28 minutes, tied for the eighth-best single-game mark by any Celtics player in the play-by-play era.

Why He's Starting

The Celtics are navigating life without four All-Stars from last season, including an injured Jayson Tatum, along with departed contributors Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford. This massive roster overhaul has forced Mazzulla to experiment with his rotation. Minott has earned more minutes with his activity and production on the boards and scoring at the rim, filling the role of a productive wing player who isn't ball dominant — exactly what this retooled Celtics squad needs.

Mazzulla praised Minott's effort level and ability to execute the game plan with situational awareness, rewarding him with a second consecutive start against Cleveland. The 22-year-old forward is in his fourth NBA season but first with Boston after three years buried on Minnesota's deep bench.

In Wednesday night's game against the Cavaliers, Minott backed up his impressive debut with another strong performance. He recorded his first NBA double-double since February 2023, posting 11 points, a career-high 14 rebounds, three steals, two assists, and one block in 33 minutes as Boston defeated Cleveland 125-105. His rebounding prowess was particularly noteworthy, as he helped the Celtics control the glass after entering the week ranked as the league's second-worst rebounding team.

Can It Continue?

Sustainability remains the key question. While Minott has shown modest improvement as a three-point shooter this season—hitting 33.3 percent on limited volume in his first few games with Boston—he's still not a volume shooter from distance. His effectiveness relies heavily on getting to the rim and using his 6-foot-8 frame and 38.5-inch vertical leap. While this athletic profile fits Boston's current needs, the Celtics' identity has been built on perimeter shooting.

The answer likely depends on role definition. If Minott continues embracing his identity as an energy player who attacks the glass, defends multiple positions, and finishes at the rim without demanding touches, he could carve out meaningful minutes. However, as Boston's roster stabilizes and potentially adds shooting through trades, his starting spot may become tenuous. For now, though, he's making the most of his opportunity.