Boston Celtics
Boston’s newest big man has signed his rookie deal.
First-rounder Chris Cenac was the center of attraction when the Celtics introduced their draft picks at the Reggie Lewis Center. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
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The Celtics have signed rookie power forward Chris Cenac Jr., according to the NBA transaction log.
Boston selected the 19-year-old Cenac with the No. 27 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said he was impressed by how hard Cenac plays, along with his upside at a position where the Celtics have needs.
“He’s just a good young player. Energetic. Plays hard. Excellent athlete,” Stevens said. “Long, fits a position of need, some things that we were a little short on last year from an athletic perspective with his size and his length and when you play for the program he’s played for he has been taught well and held to a high standard.”
The 6-foot-11, 240-pound forward was a consensus top-ten recruit in the Class of 2025. He was a McDonald’s All-American. He was MVP of the Jordan Brand Classic and the 2024 NBPA top-100 camp. He played one season at Houston, helping the Cougars reach the Sweet 16.
Stevens didn’t rule out Cenac playing in Boston right away, but he also said that he hopes the Celtics will be good enough this season that it would be tough for a teenager to earn playing time.
In other words, the Celtics are viewing this pick as a developmental project. Cenac is tall, long, athletic, and the discipline he learned playing for Kelvin Sampson at Houston could be a factor.
“He’s never had one ounce of bad body language,” Sampson said, according to an NBA.com draft profile. “He’s never, ever been late. He’s always one of the first ones there, last ones to leave. He’s like a huge sponge. Wherever he’s playing in the NBA down the road, that team is going to be lucky to get him.”
However, it may be a while before that potential turns into NBA production. He averaged 9.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 0.5 during his lone season in college basketball.
Boston bolstered its front-court by agreeing to sign Mitchell Robinson during the offseason. They also signed Neemias Queta to a contract extension. Luka Garza remains in a reserve role at center.
The Celtics have Paul George and Jayson Tatum at the forward spots. Other than Tatum, who missed the bulk of last season with an Achilles’ injury, Boston is pretty thin at power forward. At 6-foot-6-inches and 205-pounds, Jordan Walsh is currently projected by multiple outlets to be the team’s backup power forward.
There is a need for the combination of size and athleticism that Cenac could bring, however his game could use some polish especially on offense.
He was seventh in the Big 12 in rebounding as a true freshman. Defensively, he has the ability to guard multiple positions.
However, he was a 62 percent free-throw shooter last year. It’s not a particularly large sample size — he averaged 1.6 attempts per game.
But it might be an indication that he has work to do with his shooting touch. He shot 33 percent from 3-point range last season, where again, he didn’t have many attempts.
He was fourth among his Houston teammates in field-goal attempts per game. He shot 48 percent, primarily on attempts near the rim and mid-range jumpers.
Fans can get their first glimpse at Cenac in a Boston uniform on Friday night when the Celtics take on the Raptors in their Summer League opener.
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
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