Sam Hauser’s 22 minutes off the bench against the Knicks offered a clear sign that he remains a trusted part of the Celtics rotation. After a summer in which he was a constant fixture in trade speculation, he was still there when Joe Mazzulla shortened the rotation on Friday night.
That matters because Hauser’s position has shifted from uncertainty to usefulness. Last season ended with a brutal playoff showing against the 76ers, and that was enough to leave him under pressure during the offseason. But with the season now underway, the early evidence is that Boston still sees him as a reliable bench wing.
Why Hauser still matters
Against the Knicks, Hauser produced 6 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists, while hitting 2 of 5 from three-point range. He also finished with a +8 on/off rating, which fits the broader picture of a player who can help the Celtics keep structure and spacing when the rotation tightens.
In both games so far, Jordan Walsh has held the nominal starting job, but Hauser has been the main option off the bench. That is an important distinction. It suggests Boston still views him as more than a stopgap, even with younger wings around him and offseason chatter about his future.
A role built on trust
The strongest sign of all was the workload itself. Joe Mazzulla leaned on him for a 22-minute shift, including a 3-minute stint and another spell that stretched to 11 minutes, which is not the kind of usage given to a player on the fringe.
For Hauser, the message is straightforward: he may not be the flashiest wing in the group, but he is still one of the players Boston trusts when the games matter. The Celtics beat the Knicks, the rotation was shortened, and Hauser was right in the middle of it. That is usually the clearest answer a coach can give.
