Jay Scrubb had dominated Summer League, signed a two-way contract with the Celtics and was getting to know head coach Joe Mazzulla late in training camp last October when he fell awkwardly on a dunk attempt. He didn’t feel the pain right away, but knew what had happened and the anguish set in immediately. Scrubb would have to miss significant time away from basketball with a torn ACL. It ended up becoming the entire season and more.
“I would say the last day of training camp … closer to the end of practice. We were going through five-on-five with the coaches … I felt it immediately. I knew it was something. It’s just tough being in that position,” Scrubb told Boston Sports Journal. “I’m gonna have to be away from the game … not being able to walk, having to learn how to walk again, it’s crazy. That’s what was going through my mind immediately, all those things, the rehab process, being away from the game.”
Boston waived Scrubb following the season-ending surgery, later replacing him with two-way wing Drew Peterson, but Brad Stevens told Scrubb they’d help him with his rehab and make the Celtics’ facilities available to him. He became visible as camp concluded and the regular season began around Auerbach Center with his crutches and knee brace, but after several months returned to his native Kentucky to work with his trainers and largely faded from the memory of many Boston fans as the championship season began. Almost one year later, with a return to the floor looming, Scrubb will receive a second chance. He’ll sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the Celtics once he fully recovers and receives clearance to play, allowing him to compete for a spot with Boston before likely resuming his basketball career in Maine.
Scrubb, who turns 24 in September, entered the NBA as the 55th overall pick in the 2020 draft as a rare selection from a junior college, which last happened in 2004. He attended John A. Logan College in Illinois, eventually emerging as the NABC Junior College Player of the Year. The Clippers traded for him and he spent 2020-21 around Kawhi Leonard, one of his idols in Rajon Rondo and other veterans who helped acclimate him to the NBA before a foot injury in 2022 led to his release. Scrubb played with Orlando’s G-League team for the 2022-23 season before signing with the Celtics for Summer League last year. He averaged 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, flashing enough defensive promise alongside his ability to get his left-handed shot off from all three levels to earn a deal.
“I was the most confident in my career I’ve ever been,” Scrubb remembered. “The success was showing, I tried to let the work take over, getting in the gym twice a day, whether it’s three times a day, doing what I gotta do and sacrificing … it was great. Being around the guys. Being able to compete … I watched Tatum when he was at Duke, I watched Brown when he was at Cal. I watched those guys when they were in college, even in high school, so it was crazy being able to compete. I could definitely feel like they were onto something early on and it was gonna be a really good year.”
Scrubb talked to Stevens, Mazzulla and teammates in the week following his injury and felt welcomed by the organization despite his injury. They helped him come out of his shell in camp and got to remain in the locker room during the early stages of his rehab while receiving attention from the team’s training staff. He stayed there for two months, which left him watching the team’s championship run from a distance as he now begins the process of reconnecting. Scrubb watched former summer teammates Jordan Walsh and JD Davison progress into another Summer League, surprised at how young they both are.
Being around the Celtics last season, Scrubb heard from the team that he’d be welcome back at training camp this fall, which meant everything to him, he said. Now, he’s at 80% in his recovery and still has some things to address physically, but he’s focused more on the crushing mental impact of a year-long recovery and focusing on each day of the recovery. The support from the Celtics, he said, helped him get through it.
“Even though I wasn’t on the deal, I still felt like I was a part of the team, because I was there and the relationships I built and just being there, you still feel like you’re part of the organization,” Scrubb said. “That gave me the motivation to want to get back and be there with those guys … the mental part, being away from the game for the first time just crushed me, I didn’t really know how to feel, but having the support, it really takes over. That really brought me back … it’s tough physically, but the harder you work, the more you build yourself up to better yourself.”
Here’s what else happened around the NBA this week…
Atlanta: Waived center Bruno Fernando, who spent the past two seasons back with the Hawks after splitting 2021-22 between the Celtics and Rockets, going to Houston in the Daniel Theis trade. Fernando averaged 6.3 PPG and 4.3 RPG on 58.3% shooting, playing more minutes through Atlanta injuries. Boston Sports Journal profiled his unique path to the NBA in 2021. He signed with the Raptors on Friday on a training camp deal.
Boston: Jayson Tatum received a DNP-CD for likely the first time in his life in Team USA’s opening win of group play over Serbia. He returned to the starting lineup against South Sudan, scoring four points on 2-for-4 shooting while falling to 0-for-11 on jump shots across his six appearances with the US. Joel Embiid sat to reintegrate Tatum, which will change when the US plays Puerto Rico on Friday with Embiid back at starting center. Tatum said he didn’t hold any grudges and didn’t want to create a story about himself, despite him wanting to play. Former Celtic Gordon Hayward announced his retirement after 14 seasons. Boston signed rookie Anton Watson to its third and final two-way contract.
“You win a championship, new contract, NBA 2K25 cover, Sports Illustrated,” Tatum said. “So after all of this, it’s definitely a humbling experience.”
Chicago: ESPN reported on the state of the Bulls as they begin their rebuild with Zach LaVine still on the roster after failed attempts to trade him. He’ll enter this season alongside Nikola Vučević on a new-look roster that’s focused more on developing Coby White, Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey. The story described Chicago’s last-ditch effort to make the LaVine and DeMar DeRozan combination work, which involved a preseason trip to Nashville, and the team declining to move Alex Caruso and Andre Drummond at the deadline. DeRozan preferred to stay in Chicago. LaVine preferred to leave, frustrated with the team’s losing before his decision to undergo season-ending surgery in February. A team source sounded off about LaVine never having won yet being intent on doing things his way.
Cleveland: Signed Jarrett Allen to a three-year, $91 million extension through the 2029 season, further locking in the team’s core four alongside Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell’s new deals. Allen, 26 next season, averaged 16.5 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.7 APG and 1.1 BPG on 63.4% shooting while finishing 10th in defensive player of the year voting. He missed the team’s second-round series against Boston with a rib injury. The extension bumps the team’s salary to $184 million between seven players in 2025-27, $36 million below the second apron, which will also test their willingness to pay the luxury tax annually.
Denver: Nikola Jokić set Serbia up for a likely berth in the Olympic knockout stage with a win over Puerto Rico where he posted 14 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, the first 10-15-5 game in Olympic basketball history. Jokić and Serbia have now struggled twice to contend with the US and their array of bigs, Jokić performing better in the 110-84 loss in group play while his team took a step back in contending. He scored 20 points on 8-for-15 shooting, adding eight assists and four steals while struggling from three at 1-for-6. They play South Sudan on Saturday to secure their spot in the next round. On Team Canada, Jamal Murray curiously went to the bench and scored 17 points in three group play games. Canada moved to 3-0, eliminating Spain.
Detroit: Received criticism for selecting Ron Holland II in one executive’s assessment of where the worst team in the NBA in recent seasons stands. The quote was part of a larger ESPN poll on the draft, where voters around the league ranked Holland in a tie with AJ Johnson for biggest reach. Holland shot 40.8% from the field and 23.5% from three while averaging 18.5 PPG at Summer League.
“I feel bad for Cade Cunningham,” the executive said. “They’ve been rebuilding for years even though they never planned on it, and this pick signals they might need to blow up the roster and start over again. I just don’t see how [Holland] plays with Ausar Thompson, Jaden Ivey and all their other young guys. That situation is a mess. Even when Holland was scoring in Vegas, it was so ugly to watch.”
Houston: Jock Landale, who played only sparingly in his first season with the Rockets, led Australia to the knockout round as one of the best players in Olympic group play. He averaged 17.7 PPG, 9.7 RPG and 3.3 APG on 67.6% shooting through Australia’s first three difficult matchups with Canada, Spain and Greece. Dillon Brooks posted 14.3 PPG for undefeated Canada while shooting 60% from three. South Sudan head coach Royal Ivey, who joined Ime Udoka’s staff in July, pushed the US again in group play, has the country in position to make the knockout round as a wild card with a strong showing against Serbia on Saturday. They currently have a better point differential (-6) than Greece and Brazil. Ivey has coached their national team since 2021.
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard made his first public appearance since his disputed back out from the US Olympic team, working out at USC with head coach Eric Musselman. After Team USA said Leonard stepped away from the team to focus on the Clippers, Lawrence Frank said both Leonard and LA wanted him in the Olympics. Frank said it was the US’ call. Sporting News profiled how knee, ankle and thigh injuries have impacted Leonard’s career.
“I was there the first two practices,” Frank said. “He looked very good, was a full participant in everything that they did. I wasn’t there for the third practice, where ultimately, that was the point where they decided to go in a different direction. I expressed then I really wished that they would have given Kawhi more time.”
Lakers: Rui Hachimura left the Japanese Olympic team after their near upset of France would’ve put them squarely in position to reach the knockout round. He suffered an injury to his gastrocnemius muscle after feeling calf discomfort during the game, eventually receiving an ejection following a second unsportsmanlike foul call. Kobe Bryant will receive another statue outside the team’s arena depicting himself and his late daughter Gianna, who also died in the 2020 helicopter crash that killed Bryant. Brian Windhorst connected LA to center Jonas Valanciunas, who signed with Washington this summer.
Memphis: Santi Aldama averaged 17.7 PPG, 9.3 RPG and 1.7 BPG while shooting 45% from three for Spain, who lost in group play after a sixth-place finish in the 2021 Olympics and medaling in three straight appearances prior. Luke Kennard re-signed with Memphis on a one-year, $11 million contract after the team traded Ziaire Williams to Brooklyn to maintain some financial flexibility. Former Celtic Marcus Smart is expecting his first child.
Miami: Bam Adebayo has been awesome for Team USA, hitting two more threes in a dominant 18-point effort against South Sudan. Brian Windhorst admitted that Adebayo let him hear it after the ESPN reporter assumed Adebayo would take a back seat to allow Jayson Tatum to play more minutes. A three-point shooting Adebayo could be a game changer for Miami next year. Nikola Jovic has averaged 7.5 PPG on 38.5% shooting for Serbia after an offseason ankle injury scare. The Heat are among numerous teams interested in veteran free agent Marcus Morris.
Milwaukee: Giannis Antetokounpo and Greece gave themselves an outside chance at reaching the knockout stage at the Olympics after defeating Australia, 77-71, to close group play. Antetokounmpo scored 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting, finishing group play with 27.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG and 3.7 APG on 68.9% shooting. They have a -8 point differential, so they’ll need a bad loss by either Serbia or South Sudan in their meeting on Saturday.
Minnesota: Anthony Edwards has averaged 12.0 PPG on 53.3% shooting for Team USA off the bench following his declaration that the offense has to go through him. It largely has into the US’ second units, part of the reason Jayson Tatum has struggled to remain consistently involved in the team’s offense. Elsewhere, Rudy Gobert started the second half on the bench for France in a difficult loss to Germany that cost them a group win after narrowly escaping a defeat against Japan thanks to Evan Fournier’s four-point play. Terrence Shannon Jr. received some votes as the potential steal of the 2024 draft, while Rob Dillingham received more mixed reviews in the executive survey. Minnesota is also interested in Marcus Morris. Former Wolve Chase Budinger, who played in the NBA from 2009-2016, is competing in beach volleyball for the US at the Paris Olympics and could advance from pool play.
New York: Julius Randle became extension-eligible and can sign for as many as four-years and $181.5 million to stay with the Knicks long-term. It’s a negotiation that’ll become far more difficult than the team-friendly deal Jalen Brunson and New York agreed to last month. Precious Achiuwa agreed to a one-year, $6 million contract to return to the Knicks as their backup center. Chuma Okeke could also join the front court after intriguing years ago with the Magic. The Wall Street Journal wrote that you can blame the Knicks again for France’s Olympic struggles.
Oklahoma City: A 3-0 Olympic start for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Canada could put them in position for a rematch with the US in the gold medal game later this month. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 19.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 4.0 APG on 58.1% shooting in group play wins over Greece, Australia and Spain. He shot 37.5% from three and reached the free throw line 8.3 times per game. Lu Dort added 6.3 PPG on 46.2% shooting.
Orlando: Franz Wagner led Germany to an undefeated group play slate following the German World Cup win last summer. They’ll now have a strong path to the gold medal alongside the US and Canada. Wagner averaged 21.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.7 SPG and 1.0 BPG in group play, shooting 51.1% from the field, though his three-point shooting struggles continued (21.1% 3PT). Daniel Theis, an underrated addition for the Pelicans, shot 61.9% for Germany with 10.3 PPG and 7.0 RPG. Dennis Schroder added 19.7 PPG and 9.0 APG. They might have the best chance to topple Team USA.
Philadelphia: Joel Embiid received a DNP-CD in USA-South Sudan this week, though he’ll return to the starting lineup on Saturday against Puerto Rico. He has struggled to acclimate to the US’ stacked roster, more often playing without the ball in a fast-paced offense and contending with talented international bigs. He scored four points on 2-of-5 shooting in the opener against Serbia, fouling three times in 11 minutes. Reggie Jackson signed a minimum deal with the Sixers following his release from Charlotte. The 76ers also have interest in Dāvis Bertāns and a Marcus Morris return.
Phoenix: Kevin Durant returned from his calf injury and dominated coming off the US bench in Olympic group play, adding to his perhaps unmatched US basketball legacy with 20 points on 8-for-9 shooting against Serbia before scoring 14 points with a pair of threes against South Sudan. Devin Booker has emerged as a starter for Team USA, adding 11.0 PPG on 66.7% shooting through two games. Tyus Jones signed a minimum contract to become the Suns’ point guard, a potential game-changer for their ability to contend in the west next season. He shot 41.4% from three with 7.3 APG with the Wizards.
Portland: One executive in ESPN’s poll called UConn center Donovan Clingan the steal of the draft for the Blazers at No. 7 overall.
“The things he did defensively in summer league were unreal with the impact he made,” a different voter said. “Now they have him shooting trail and pick-and-pop 3s. If he starts making those consistently, that’s a game-changer with the way he can pass and protect the rim.”
Jerami Grant is reportedly on the Lakers’ radar as they continue to assess trades closer to the season. He’s entering the second season of a five-year contract with the Blazers. Anfernee Simons could also be moved at some point this season as Portland continues its rebuild. Devonte Graham signed a one-year deal with the Blazers this week.
San Antonio: In a mixed showing overall for France, Victor Wembanyama has averaged 17.0 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.7 SPG and 2.0 BPG on 48.6% shooting while converting 43.7% from three. They’ll move on to the knockout stage dangerous in any given game with Wembanyama as the best player on the floor against any opponent except the US.
Utah: The effective Aug. 6 deadline looms for Lauri Markkanen and the Jazz to get an extension done and maintain his trade eligibility for the 2025 deadline. Markkanen reportedly does not want to be traded despite ongoing rumors connecting him with the Golden State Warriors. That could lead to a deal getting done after the sixth, which would make him ineligible to move until next offseason. John Collins, Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton moving while the team reorganizes around Markkanen remains the most likely path forward for the Jazz.
