The Boston Celtics made two second-round selections in this year's NBA Draft. They took Amari Williams, a center from Kentucky, 46th overall. At No. 57, they utilized the third-to-last pick on Max Shulga, a sharpshooter from Virginia Commonwealth University [VCU].]
Less than a week later, Shulga joined Amari Williams and Boston's first-round selection, Hugo Gonzalez, in helping conduct a youth basketball clinic at a renovated court unveiling at a YMCA in the greater Boston Area.
Afterwards, the former Atlantic 10 Player of the Year recalled his chaotic draft night experience, and hearing his name called as the final picks got announced.
"It was mixed emotions," shared Shulga. "I couldn't even tell what to feel. Everything was moving so fast. My agent -- he was on the phone every minute; walking away, coming back, so it was kind of chaotic. But when I got to know that the Celtics were going to pick me, it was unbelievable. Unreal feeling."
What comforts Max Shulga about his first NBA home
For the Kyiv, Ukraine, native, who is reuniting with Neemias Queta after teaming for a year at Utah State, getting drafted is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Achieving that takes time to process.
"It's still surreal, like I said, it hasn't really settled in fully yet," said Shulga. "[It's] a little weird, but it's going to take a couple of weeks. It feels like when I walked in the facility, it still felt a little bit like I'm going around and doing workouts and stuff like that. But yeah, it's an unbelievable feeling. [A] once in a lifetime opportunity."
The expectation is that Shulga [and Williams] will join Boston on two-way deals. As they start their careers and strive to earn standard NBA contracts, there's peace of mind that stems from the Celtics' track record in player development.
That includes helping Queta go from a two-way pact to occupying a full-time roster spot. JD Davison has grown into the reigning G League MVP and graduated from that same contractual agreement. Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet have gone from undrafted free agents to thriving in Boston. The latter's career evolution recently earned him a four-year, $41 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs.
When asked about the comfort that comes from joining an organization that has consistently helped players up and down the roster reach their potential, Shulga voiced the following to Hardwood Houdini.
"Yeah, of course. [The] Boston Celtics are one of the best, if not the best franchise in the league. So, it does give me comfort, knowing the history behind it, the history of, as you said, undrafted players [and] second-round picks. My job is to go there and do my best and play hard, and everything will play out."
