Charles Bassey impresses Celtics

Jul 13, 2025 3:02 AM

Charles Bassey wasn’t originally slated to suit up for the Boston Celtics in Summer League, but by Friday night, he had made a major impact.

As Brian Robb of MassLive reports, the veteran big man joined the roster late but quickly made his presence felt in a standout performance during the Celtics’ win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Despite entering his fifth year in the Las Vegas Summer League, a rarity for most players, Bassey looked like a natural fit.

Coming off the bench, he tallied an impressive 14 points and 11 rebounds in just 18 minutes, flashing the kind of energy and physicality that Boston may be seeking in their frontcourt rotation.

“It was last-minute,” Bassey explained. “I got a call from my agent and flew out the next day and started training camp with them. It’s been good, man. It’s been good from training camp to today’s game. The energy has been great, vibing with these guys and coaches, it’s been fun. Everything’s been good.”

According to Robb, the Celtics have previously shown interest in Bassey, but the current state of their roster gives added weight to his Summer League showing.

With Kristaps Porzingis traded, Luke Kornet departing in free agency, and Al Horford reportedly nearing the end of his time in Boston, the team finds itself in need of interior depth.

At present, they lack a battle-tested center on the roster, which helps explain why Bassey seized the opportunity to join the Celtics in Las Vegas.

Bassey knows exactly what kind of value he brings and how he can fill that void.

“Great effort, rebounding, blocking shots, rim protection,” he said. “I bring great defense to the team. I just play my role. I know what a team needs from me and I know what they want from me and I do it every night.”

Speaking to reporters a day later, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens offered measured praise, refraining from speculation about Bassey’s roster chances but acknowledging his strong debut.

“I don’t want to speak for him, what his goals might be,” Stevens said. “He’s a guy that’s probably playing for what’s next. I just think he’s a guy we’ve paid attention to from afar for a long time. We’re watching all these guys all the time and I thought he did a really good job yesterday. He probably was the biggest reason we won the game I thought.”