Baylor Scheierman reveals why he always draws the ire of the opposition

BOSTON — Boston Celtics wing Baylor Scheierman there is none the typical origins of the modern NBA player. He hails from a small town in Nebraska, a state that has produced only 21 other NBA players. The Celtics sophomore spent most of his career at South Dakota State, a college where only three other guys played in the league.

Because of his unusual start and funky looks, which Scheuermann says is not helped by his unique hairstyle, the 25-year-old is often underestimated. And whenever he gets up to take a shot in front of the opposing bench, those players who are sitting usually make fun of him.

So when several people on Sacramento Kings bench tried to take Scheierman off his game Friday night as he attempted a wide-open 3-pointer, he was unfazed. 2024 first round pick proceeded to drain a three-pointer, then confidently looked back at the opponent’s bench.

“I’m a 6’7” white guy with shaggy hair and a few tattoos, Scheierman said in the locker room after the 112-93 home win. “So they like to attack me when I’m out. I’ll pay them right back.”

Baylor Scheierman on what the opposing bench tells him:
“I’m a 6-foot-7 white guy with shaggy hair and a few tattoos. That’s why they like to attack me when I’m there. I’ll pay them right back.”
“It’s the best feeling,” he says of hitting a 3 in front of the opposition bench. pic.twitter.com/aPdF5I7ePC
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) January 31, 2026

This is not a new experience for Scheierman, who has enjoyed taunting his opponents since his freshman year (and probably much earlier in his basketball career).

“It’s the best feeling, without a doubt,” he said when asked if it was more satisfying to hit a 3-pointer in front of the other team’s bench.

It barely made it to the end, but Baylor Scheierman just blew a kiss on the Sixers bench afterward 3 pic.twitter.com/ZU0V8GCLnv
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) March 7, 2025

How Baylor Scheierman grew for the Celtics

In a 19-point win over the lowly Kings, Scheierman had 16 points — one shy of his season high — and five rebounds in nearly 31 minutes of play. And while his 3-point shooting gets the most attention, the Celtics’ head coach Joe Mazzulla he remembers the one steal Scheierman had and how it indicates his defensive growth.

“He’s developed into a good guy for us defensively, where he can defend different matchups,” Macula praised in his postgame presser. “He draws us some legit screens, but he can play defensively. He knows how to play against cross-matches on the other end, and he’s made some shots and offensive rebounds. So I’m happy with where he’s grown defensively for us.”

Since Celtics star Jaylen Brown rested against the KingsScheierman won the kickoff. The Celtics are now 3-1 with an NBA No. 2 player in the starting lineup, and it’s clear that Mazzulla and the rest of the C’s know they can rely on him more than ever.

“I think I tried to make the most of every opportunity I got, and with that comes more confidence,” Scheierman said. “I’m just out there trying to impact the game in any way I can.”

Nearly 50 games into the 2025-26 regular season, Scheierman is shooting a record 45.9% from the floor and an impressive 41.5% from deep. He also saw an uptick in minutes, which could continue Sunday afternoon when the 30-18 Celtics host the struggling Milwaukee Bucks.

If Brown sits again, Scheierman may start for the seventh time in his young NBA career. But no matter when he enters, expect him to play with a chip on his shoulder and the swagger of someone who knows what he’s capable of, even if opposing players and fans are unfamiliar: