BOSTON — When the Boston Celtics selected Baylor Scheierman with the 30th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, they had a vision for him. The Creighton University wing performed well in summer league and received rave reviews from coaches and players early in training camp. But most of the buzz surrounding Scheierman is coming from Celtics Twitter.
During Celtics Media Day, a photo of Scheerman being interviewed went viral among fans, who quickly created side-by-side comparisons of how he looks now compared to his final year with the Blue Jays, and the difference is staggering.
Coach Scheierman explained the change after practice on Thursday.
The Celtics rookie revealed the truth behind the drastic change in his appearance – the team wanted him to gain more weight.
“Yeah, that was a directive from them,” Shierman said. “It was something that we sat down and talked about and it was something that they wanted me to improve on and something that they thought was important for me to get to this level and they’ve been very happy with my progress in that area.”
Baylor Scheuerman transferred from Creighton to Dorchester in four months, and Boston will like this guy. pic.twitter.com/cepwTK14RZ
— Gaz (@stoolsalesguy) September 24, 2024
Boston is pleased with Schiermann’s progress because of the good results he’s received. The rookie said he’s put on a lot of weight since Las Vegas.
“From summer league until now, I’ve spent a lot of time working on my physique,” Shierman said. “Working on my physique, trying to put on muscle mass and I’ve been able to put on 10-15 pounds in that area.”
At the NBA Draft Combine, Shireman was listed at 201.6 pounds, 6 feet 6 inches tall, and 0.25 inches tall. That means he currently weighs around 215 to 220 pounds, according to his calculations.
For comparison, that’s roughly the same height and weight as players like DeMar DeRozan, Klay Thompson, Aaron Nesmith and Taurean Prince.
Shierman praised the facilities at Boston’s Auerbach Center, which includes a built-in kitchen.
“I’ve changed my diet and I’d like to thank Steve for all the help he’s given me in the kitchen,” Shierman said. “It’s nice to have a kitchen here, so I can eat a couple of meals a day here while I’m here, and I’m also taking creatine.”
Scheierman may not see a ton of playing time in his rookie season, but the 23-year-old is following the team’s lead and is on the right track.