BOSTON – It was a pretty standard day in the G-League for Jarell Eddie.
The Windy City Bulls had a game that night, but a pre-game nap was in order.
But before he could drift off into a brief slumber, Eddie’s plans – and basketball career – were soon jetting off in another unpredictable direction.
It was his agent calling to let him know the Boston Celtics were signing him to a 10-day contract for what would be his second stint – sort of – with the Celtics.
Back in 2014, the Celtics picked up Eddie off waivers only for him to be waived by Boston just a couple days later.
“I remember I was excited I got picked up off of waivers,” Eddie recalled. “And I was really excited and I thought, ‘okay cool, I’ve got another opportunity. And then a couple days later I wasn’t here. So, it was a real quick stint.”
The fact that he will be on the bench tonight is indeed progress compared to his first time as a Celtic.
Boston Celtics
But more than anything, Eddie has a specific strength – shooting – that the Celtics desperately need more of going forward.
“As we went through this past week, as the flu went through our team, with Kyrie and the shoulder, we wanted to make sure as we begin to head West we had a full complement of guys,” Stevens said. “And his ability to shoot the basketball is unique.”
While it is indeed Eddie’s greatest strength, he’ll need to show that there’s more to his game than just knocking down shots.
First and foremost, he has to get on the floor which will not be easy.
One of the reasons the Celtics signed him was because they weren’t sure of the status of Kyrie Irving’s sore left shoulder which kept him sidelined for Boston’s 89-80 loss to Philadelphia on Thursday.
But Irving’s shoulder has improved to the point where he will return to the Celtics’ lineup today against Orlando.
Eddie, who has 31 NBA games under his belt from his time in Phoenix and Washington, understands that his opportunities will be limited.
But for him, it’s all about having an opportunity – something the Celtics are open to giving him.
“It’s just so rewarding to finally get that call that you worked so hard for in the offseason, during the season, while you’re playing in the G-League,” Eddie said. “Going through that grind. So, to get that call is such a reward.”
And now, the focus will be on him to answer that call and do enough in the 10-day window that he’s hoping to extend to provide himself with the one thing that has been missing throughout his pro career – a basketball home.
“You never get used to it,” he said. “I feel like at this point in my career I’m chasing stability, to be in one place longer than six months or however long. You never get used to it. I know my wife is tired of it. You’re definitely trying to get somewhere, stick somewhere.”