BRIGHTON — Miles Norris was on his manner dwelling from a G-League recreation in Santa Cruz when he obtained the decision from his agent: the Celtics needed to signal him as their third two-way participant.
“He stated, ‘Go dwelling, pack up, be able to go within the morning,’” Norris recalled, talking to reporters for the primary time as a Celtic. “I packed as a lot as I might. It’s good to be right here.”
The decision was a very long time coming.
Miles Norris, who was undrafted, shared when he discovered about his Celtics two-way contract:
“I used to be really on the connecting flight again from Santa Cruz G League recreation. My agent known as me actual fast. He stated, ‘Go dwelling, pack up, be able to go within the morning.” pic.twitter.com/YNCUZqNzBs
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) March 4, 2025
Norris went undrafted in 2023 after a collegiate profession that included stints in Oregon, CC of San Francisco, and UC Santa Barbara. He’s bounced round within the G League ever since, spending final season with the Faculty Park Skyhawks, Atlanta’s G League affiliate, and this season with the Memphis Hustle.
On Monday, he toured the Auerbach Heart for the primary time and accomplished his bodily. On Tuesday, he met Joe Mazzulla and the remainder of the Celtics workers and gamers, becoming a member of the staff for a morning movie session that was sufficient to focus on that the Celtics have been a successful group.
“It looks as if they’re a extremely related group,” Norris stated. “I’m actually excited to be part of that. Some locker rooms are slightly completely different. It looks as if they’ve a extremely robust connection chemistry-wise and within the locker room.”
Norris has one pre-existing relationship with a veteran Celtic: Payton Pritchard, who he was teammates together with his freshman 12 months at Oregon in 2019.
The 2 obtained to briefly compensate for Tuesday morning.
“Payton’s an excellent man,” Norris stated. “It’s good to see him once more, good to be again enjoying with him once more after school. Small world. It’s like a full-circle second for me and Payton.”
Norris can also be acquainted with Mazzulla, however within the very restricted manner that most individuals within the basketball world are — from seeing his viral press convention moments on Instagram.
“Among the press conferences with him are fairly humorous,” Norris stated with a smile. “However he’s an excellent dude. An intense coach, however he additionally has a humorousness to him, so I like that.”
Norris went to Brewster Academy for highschool, which is a pair hours from Boston in New Hampshire. He’s been to Boston a couple of instances, and stated his early impressions have been optimistic.
“I really like town of Boston,” Norris stated. “I’ve been right here a pair instances. I’m gonna get used to the chilly climate, although, as a result of I’m a California man, so gotta get used to the chilly. However, I find it irresistible out right here, up to now – I really like the individuals, teaching workers, the entire group.”
Miles Norris is completely satisfied to be right here:
“I really like town of Boston. I have been right here a pair instances. I am gonna get used to the chilly climate, although, as a result of I am a California man… however, I find it irresistible out right here, up to now – I really like the individuals, teaching workers, the entire group.” pic.twitter.com/Vfkp2QCBd8
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) March 4, 2025
What stood out to the Celtics about Miles Norris
Norris has had an excellent 12 months for the Hustle. He’s averaging 17.1 factors, 5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, whereas capturing 38.5% from three. Mazzulla stated that Norris’s size, athleticism, and capturing skill all stood because the Celtics opted to signal him.
Mazzulla additionally stated that his earlier historical past of enjoying with Pritchard helped give the Celtics added confidence within the signing.
“If you realize guys that know different guys and so they can vouch for them, how they’re, particularly within the locker room, how they’re outdoors of the ground, it positively helps,” Mazzulla stated.
Joe Mazzulla on why the Celtics signed Miles Norris:
“His size, his athleticism, he’s proven a good skill to shoot the ball.”
Additionally provides that he’s somebody Payton Pritchard vouched for as they have been school teammates pic.twitter.com/xfrVsPUb7W
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) March 4, 2025
Norris’s pleasure was palpable throughout his transient dialog with reporters; in truth, he used the phrase “excited” 12 instances within the 5-minute interview.
That pleasure is comprehensible; that is the 24-year-old’s first time on a two-way contract, and it appears he could possibly be an excellent match.
Jon Rosen, who offers coloration commentary for the Hustle, advised CelticsBlog he believes he’ll seamlessly combine into the Celtics’ three-point-heavy offense.
“Miles is ideal for the Celtics,” Rosen stated. “He’s a shooter. He does present his athleticism from time to time and he’ll hammer one down, [he’s a] right-handed dunker… Miles Norris will completely shoot the quilt off the ball, and he shoots it a ton.”
Most two-way gamers spend most of their time with the G League membership, and it sounds prefer it’s up within the air for Norris proper now. However, for a man who didn’t hear his title on draft evening, and has but to signal a two-way, it was apparent this was a momumental second.
“I’ve been enjoying effectively all season, simply sort of sticking it out within the G League, ready for my name — management what I can management,” Norris stated. “However it’s actually good to be right here in Boston. Like I stated, a successful tradition. I’m simply actually excited to be a part of this group.”
