Miles Norris wasn’t completely unfamiliar with the Boston Celtics upon landing an opportunity to join the reigning champions.
Norris, an undrafted forward and 3-point specialist, has undergone a journeyman’s route. The 24-year-old logged 22 appearances with the Memphis Hustle — the G League affiliate of the Memphis Grizzlies — and averaged 17.1 points with five rebounds, shooting 39.5% from three. Norris knocked down 79 threes in the process, ranking third among all G League players before getting a call from his agent Sunday.
Norris, who revealed he underwent a pre-draft workout with the Celtics in 2023, reunited with ex-Oregon teammate Payton Pritchard upon joining the team. Pritchard and Norris spent one season together as teammates with the Ducks in 2018-19 before the 6-foot-7 forward transferred to City College of San Francisco.
“It was great. Payton’s a great guy,” Norris told reporters at Tuesday’s practice, per CLNS Media. “It’s good to see him again. Good to be back playing with him, again, after college. So, you know, it’s a small world. I think it’s like a full-circle moment for me and Payton as well, so I’m excited to be here playing with him.”
Boston unexpectedly waived 2024 second-round selection Anton Watson, leaving a vacant spot for the team’s third and final two-way slot. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens had no intentions of letting the spot go vacant and quickly signed Norris to a two-way deal shortly after Watson’s departure.
Story continues below advertisement
So far, Norris is sinking in the Boston experience, which includes getting a first-hand look at the one-of-a-kind character that is Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.
“He got like a sense of humor,” Norris said. “It’s kind of hard to read, but he’s got a sense of humor. I know I’ve scrolled on Instagram and stuff before — some of the press conferences with him, it’s pretty funny. But he’s a good dude. Intense coach, but he also has a sense of humor to him, so I like that as well.”
Pritchard has made himself a household name with the organization after years of feeling overlooked and campaigning for a trade out of Boston. The undersized guard went from rummaging for minutes off the bench as a rookie to now averaging a career-high 13.9 points as the leading candidate for the league’s Sixth Man of the Year award.
Norris, for the past two years, which even included a run with Çağdaş Bodrumspor in Turkey, is aiming to follow in Pritchard’s footsteps in carving a role of his own somewhere. He mentioned how his parents were perhaps even more thrilled than him when they heard the news of the Celtics signing.
Story continues below advertisement
“They were really excited,” Norris revealed. “I know my parents were waiting for my call. I’ve been playing well all season. I was just trying to stick it down in the G League and wait for my call, you know, control what I can control. But it’s really good to be here in Boston, a winning culture. I’m just really excited to be a part of this organization.”
Mazzulla has given fellow two-way signees JD Davison and Drew Peterson playing time with the Celtics, so Norris could be in line for an opportunity to contribute next.
