The Boston Celtics may have unearthed a gem in French big man Vincent Poirier.
Poirier was quite a revelation for France in the FIBA World Cup in China. While he played in limited minutes — largely as a backup for star big man Rudy Gobert — Poirier took advantage of the opportunities given to him and made his presence felt. He finished the tournament averaging 5.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
In their third-place game against Australia, the Celtics big man had a lasting impact as he finished with eight points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes of play.
Poirier’s France teammates and fellow NBA players Nicolas Batum and Evan Fournier were both impressed by what they have seen from the 25-year-old center and noted that he was a “good pick-up” by Danny Ainge and the Beantown team.
Fournier on Poirier: "It's clear that he's a center that can block shots and control the paint. He's a terrific roller, can really catch a lob, and obviously has a lot of energy. It's a good pick-up for Boston, for sure."
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) September 15, 2019
Poirier, who went undrafted in 2015, signed a two-year deal with the Celtics this summer. With the team losing Al Horford and Aron Baynes, Boston took a gamble on the Frenchman — whom they believe can provide them with some much-needed rebounding and rim protection.
Poirier will play in his first year in the NBA in 2019-20. Last season in the EuroLeague, he averaged 11.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting 61.7 percent from the field and 73.1 percent from the free-throw line for Baskonia. He was eventually named to the All-EuroLeague second team.
Follow Us
Subscribe