Former Big West Defensive Player of the Year Hayden Gray rejoins Boston after making his NBA debut with Utah, giving the Celtics another defensive-minded guard competing for a roster opportunity.
BOSTON | Former UC San Diego standout Hayden Gray has signed with the Boston Celtics ahead of training camp, returning to the organization where he spent most of his rookie professional season with the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League.
The move gives Gray another opportunity to establish himself in the NBA after the San Diego native made his league debut with the Utah Jazz late in the 2025-26 season. Reports this week described Gray's Boston agreement as a pre-training camp or training camp deal.
Gray's return also continues a rapid climb for the former UC San Diego guard, who went from one of college basketball's premier perimeter defenders to the G League and then the NBA in little more than a year.
Gray spent most of last season with Maine, appearing in 48 games with 23 starts. He averaged 9.9 points, 5.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 steals in 27.9 minutes per game while recording eight double-doubles and four 20-point performances.
