After a whirlwind week of introductions, interviews and team meetings, Boston Celtics second-round draft pick Abdel Nader finally got down to playing some basketball with his new team on Thursday, June 30.
The Celtics Summer League squad, which is comprised primarily of rookies and second-year players, began preparation for the Utah Jazz Summer League, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, July 4. Looking around the organization’s practice facility in Waltham, Mass., Nader, a Niles North alumnus, said he was a bit overwhelmed by his surroundings.
“I kind of caught myself in practice today just looking around,” said Nader, who was the No. 58 pick out of Iowa State. “(Celtics regular) Marcus Smart decided to practice with us, and there were all these Celtics coaches, some guys already on the roster and the other draft picks, and I’m wearing all this Celtics stuff and at their practice facility with 17 championships banners hanging. It kind of hits you all at once. It took me some time to get comfortable because my mind was wandering.”
A week earlier, Nader had been watching the 2016 NBA Draft at his family home in Skokie with relatives and a few close friends, hoping to hear his name called. It took a while. He was drafted two spots from the last pick and was the eighth Celtics selection of the night, two of which they traded.
The 6-foot-6, 230-pound Nader had worked out for 17 different teams before the draft and Boston was one of four to bring him back for a second workout. Nader said coach Brad Stevens likes his versatility.
“(Accumulating guys who can play multiple positions) is something the Celtics are trying to do,” said Nader, who hopes to play in Boston this year, but could end up with the Celtics’ NBA Development League team in Portland, Maine. “I can play the one (point guard) through the four (power forward) and they love that about me. We have a couple (draft picks) like Jaylen Brown and Ben Bentil who are versatile. That’s where the NBA is headed and that’s a great thing for guys like me.”
Nader had a strong senior season, averaging 12.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game and being named All-Big 12 honorable mention for an Iowa State team that reached the Sweet 16. However, Nader was overshadowed by teammate Georges Niang, who ended up getting drafted No. 50. Nader was not necessarily a player NBA teams were high on, until they brought him in for workouts.
“Everybody thought Abdel (would end up playing in Europe) coming out of Iowa State,” said Cervando Tejeda, Nader’s agent. “But teams saw a player do things they didn’t see during the season. He has a 40-inch vertical leap. Nobody in the NBA knew he had that. Nobody knew he could shoot that well. He has a 7-foot-1 wingspan. Nobody knew he was that long. Then when he played (in the workouts) his ability to shoot and defend really intrigued teams. And he’s such a nice kid. He won teams over with his kindness and personality.”
Though he always dreamed of playing in the NBA, Nader said he didn’t start putting in the necessary work until after a somewhat disappointing junior season, his first year of eligibility in Ames, Iowa, after transferring from Northern Illinois.
That season began with Nader serving a three-game suspension after being arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Though he had some good games, Nader’s play was inconsistent, and he averaged just 5.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per contest.
“After junior year, I was definitely disappointed in myself. I knew I was overweight and had let things slip a little,” said Nader, who lost 15-20 pounds ahead of his senior season. “I began to take better care of my body and started working harder, and it paid off. I’ve continued to do that and hopefully it will continue to pay off.”
Niles North coach Glenn Olson, who has known Nader since the latter was in seventh grade, said Nader has matured in recent years and is committed to making it as a pro.
“He’s come so far,” said Olson, who coached Nader as a sophomore at Maine East before both of them ended up at Niles North the following season. “He spoke to our team (this summer) and he says the right things, and he cares about the right things. This isn’t some early 20s college kid focused on having a good time. He’s focused on becoming a pro player.”
Olson said Nader’s focus and drive could be seen the week of the NBA Draft: Nader was back in Skokie and had Olson put him through some vigorous basketball workouts.
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That Nader chose to be around Olson at that time is not all that surprising given how Nader feels about his former coach.
“He’s a big-time male figure in my life and always has been,” Nader said. “I am so grateful to have him in my life. He never wanted anything in return, only for me to be the best I could be. He instilled so much confidence and belief that it was hard for me to fail.
“I owe so much to him, and my family and friends. But (Olson) was big-time from a basketball standpoint.”
Dan Shalin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press