By CHRIS RUSSELL & ADAM ZAGORIA
The Boston Celtics have recalled James Young from the Maine Red Claws of the NBA D-League.
The 6-foot-7 Young scored a game-high 25 points on 9-for-15 shooting and posted 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 35 minutes of action against the Texas Legends on Wednesday.
Young, the 17th pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, has appeared in five games for the Celtics this season, averaging 2.2 points per game.
“We need to be more patient with James, especially out of the gate,” Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said in September.
In seven games with the NBA D-League affiliate Red Claws, Young is averaging 21.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists per game.
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It’s becoming more and more common for NBA teams to move first-round picks back and forth to the D-League.
So far this year 13 first-round picks from the 2014 NBA Draft have played in the D-League. In total, 14 2014 first-rounders have D-League experience, including P.J. Hairston who hasn’t played in the D-League this season.
From the 2013 NBA Draft, 11 first-round picks have D-League experience.
Among the players in the 2014 Draft class to spend time in the D-League this year are No. 6 Marcus Smart, No. 9 Noah Vonleh, No. 14 T.J. Warren, No. 15 Adreian Payne, No. 17 Young, No. 18 Tyler Ennis, No. 21 Mitch McGary, No. 24 Shabazz Napier and No. 30 Kyle Anderson.
“It was good to get out there and just see the progress…and show everybody that I’m able to play on this level,” Ennis, now with the Suns, told SNY.tv after a two-game stint in the D-League. “Not that it’s the NBA, but it’s not college, and I think that was good for everybody to see the progress I’ve been making.”
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