The Boston Celtics revealed their NBA Summer League roster on Wednesday, and the majority of the names lined up with expectations. However, one entry stood out: Mohammad Amini. Although he was part of the 2026 NBA Draft class, he wasn’t selected, and news of him potentially joining Boston for Summer League hadn’t been widely circulated until now. There he was on the Celtics’ Summer League roster, a name that invites a closer look.
Amini stands 6-foot-7 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan. At 21 years old, he hails from Iran and most recently has been playing for Nancy Basket in France. NBA.com’s draft profile notes that Amini participated in the 2023 Basketball Without Borders Global Camp and represented Iran’s senior national team at the World Championship, where he led the squad with 13.2 points per game. He also impressed during the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, highlighted by a 33-point performance against India in February. In the 2025-26 season with Nancy’s senior team, he posted averages of 7.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 47% from the field, 23% from three and 62% from the free-throw line over 24 appearances. He initially entered the 2025 NBA Draft, withdrew, and then declared again for the 2026 draft.
What makes Amini interesting is his length. With a 6-foot-10 wingspan, he has the potential to function as a versatile defender on the perimeter if he can guard multiple positions and handle the ball effectively. The challenge, however, lies in his shooting. In the 2025-26 season, he shot 25.7% from three-point range and 62.5% at the free-throw line, numbers that raise questions about his scoring efficiency at the NBA level. NBA.com assessed him as a player whose combination of size, length and competitive drive provides a solid foundation to build upon, but whose shooting limitations complicate projections for a specific NBA role in the near term. Some scouts have suggested that he would benefit from additional time in Europe or perhaps a move to a mid-major NCAA program to broaden his game. If his shooting develops, Amini could become a switchable wing defender with scoring versatility, drawing comparisons to players like Kyle Kuzma and Franz Wagner. For now, he is viewed as a draft-and-stash candidate at best, with significant shooting improvement required before a team would consider committing a pick.
For the Celtics, bringing Amini to Summer League offers a valuable opportunity to see his game up close and gauge what part of his skill set translates to the NBA and what he still needs to improve. It’s unlikely to result in an immediate contract, but the experience provides Boston with an in-depth look that could inform long-term decisions.
As the Celtics continue to refine their squad and explore potential developmental paths, Amini’s presence in Summer League underscores the franchise’s interest in evaluating international talent with unique physical tools. The team will be watching closely to determine whether his length and defense can be paired with improved shooting to create a viable NBA role, or if his path will remain longer-term and more developmental in nature.
If you’re following Celtics news, this Summer League inclusion adds an extra layer of intrigue to the team’s roster evaluation. For more Celtics coverage, you can mark NESN as a preferred source by clicking here, and stay tuned for updates on how Amini performs in Las Vegas and what it might mean for Boston’s summer and beyond.
Content Source: Yahoo News
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