Jayson Tatum shared the Boston Celtics roster with a 25-year-old player who appeared in just 25 games during his second NBA season. That connection has now ended, as the player will join LaMelo Ball’s Charlotte Hornets.
The player in question is Drew Peterson, who has flown largely under the radar but debuted with Tatum’s Celtics. Thanks to his agents, he’ll now have the chance to reunite with a former coach in Charlotte.
“Former Celtics forward Drew Peterson has agreed to a two-way NBA deal with the Charlotte Hornets, agents Mike Silverman and Troy Payne of Equity Sports tell ESPN. Hornets’ Charles Lee coached Peterson in Boston two seasons ago,” Shams Charania reported on X.
Peterson Showed Promise in Boston
Despite playing very few games with the Boston Celtics, Drew Peterson made the most of his opportunity, earning his first career NBA start—a significant milestone for him. In the NBA, he averaged just 2.2 points per game. However, his performance in the G-League was notable, where he averaged 20 points per game with the Maine Celtics during the 2024-25 season across 15 starts.
Beyond his intriguing numbers, which could signal a worthwhile investment for any team’s future, head coach Joe Mazzulla had previously lauded Peterson’s defensive capabilities. “I always like guys who are better defenders than people think, like Sam. He’s a better defender than people think he is,” Mazzulla told Noa Dalzell in 2024.
Regarding his arrival in Charlotte, reactions to Peterson joining the Hornets have been positive. Owen O’Connor, a Sports Illustrated Hornets writer, detailed his potential impact: “Drew Peterson was solid when he received minutes during his two year stint in Boston. He’s fantastic shooting depth for the Hornets. Averaged 20/7/6 with 1.5 steals on 44/40/87 splits with the Maine Celtics this season.”