HoopsHype.com Rumors

Ben Rohrbach: Stiemsma injured his foot again last night, Avery's 50-50 for tomorrow & Ray's ankle is still bothering him according to Rivers. Good times. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Ray Allen, Doc Rivers, Avery Bradley, Injuries, Greg Stiemsma 

Following the Celtics win against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, Celtics center Greg Stiemsma, who did not play, was undecided on whether or not he will play on Thursday in the regular season finale against the Milwaukee Bucks. His main priority before the playoffs is resting his right foot, in which he has plantar fasciitis. “We’ll see on Thursday. I haven’t decided yet,” he told CSNNE.com. “I could have played tonight, but I was taking advantage of a little opportunity to get some rest.” CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Injuries, Greg Stiemsma 

Stiemsma will be a restricted free agent this summer with a qualifying offer worth $1.05 million. After traveling through Europe and the NBA Development League for years, the 26-year-old center would like to return next season to the team that gave him his first shot in the NBA. “Oh yeah, absolutely,” Stiemsma told CSNNE.com. “Next year’s going to kind of take care of itself, I’m hoping, so I’m not getting too worried about it yet. But at the same time, with everything that I’ve learned from these guys and this organization, I’d love to come back.” CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Greg Stiemsma 

Jessica Camerato: Big news, sneaker fans: @GregStiemsma signed with Nike. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Sneakers, Greg Stiemsma 

The journey of Greg Stiemsma continues as the Boston Celtics rookie signed with Nike just over a week ago. “I’m still waiting on getting some gear delivered,” he told CSNNE.com with an ear-to-ear smile. “I’m looking forward to it.” Signing with Nike is part of the undrafted 26 year old’s whirlwind first season in the NBA. Staying humble, he struggled at times to find the words to express the significance of it all. “It still doesn’t seem like that’s who I am or that’s the reality,” he said. “It’s all part of this experience. I’m trying to make it last as much as I can.” CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Sneakers, Greg Stiemsma 

Gary Washburn: Greg Stiemsma confirms earlier Globe report that his contract has been guaranteed. Brandon Bass is also back in the lineup tonight #celtics Twitter

Boston Celtics, Greg Stiemsma 

A. Sherrod Blakely: #CSNNE.com has learned the #Celtics plan to keep Greg Stiemsma around, thus making his contract guaranteed for the season. Story up soon. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Greg Stiemsma 

Greg Stiemsma is the lone Celtic on the roster with a non-guaranteed contract and his deal would be guaranteed if he remains on the roster by 6 p.m. today. According to an NBA source, Stiemsma, the rookie signed from the NBADL, is safe and will have his contract guaranteed. Stiemsma impressed the Celtics with his defense and shot-blocking abilities but has played sparingly of late because of the emergence of Chris Wilcox. Still, he remains an asset on the bench and has increased his market value with his production. Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Greg Stiemsma 

Stiemsma said this morning that he had not heard word from his agent but he did participate in the team's shootaround in preparation for tonight's game with the Charlotte Bobcats. "I try not to get caught up in the business side once we get the season rolling," he said. "I think overall it's been a great opportunity. I started out hot and that's just the way the game goes, the way the season is going to go. It's going to be here and there. As long as I'm ready when I get the call." Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Greg Stiemsma 

Stiemsma led the Randolph High School basketball team to three consecutive Division 4 state titles. He was recruited by the University of Wisconsin basketball squad and left for Madison with the support of an entire community behind him. He also felt the pressures. “Coming from a town of 1,500 people, it was huge,“ said the 6-11 center. “Everybody’s Badger fans. For them to have one of their little boys go to the big city, it was a big thing. So there were a lot of people looking up to me and still now. I think, to a kind of negative, all that weight was on my shoulders too. At times it gets overwhelming. But at the same time, if I can be happy with what I’m doing in myself, they can get on board with that too.” CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Greg Stiemsma 

He internalized his problems to cope. When his parents asked how school was going, he kept the conversation short. When they asked how he was doing, he smiled and tried to appear happy. It couldn’t have been farther from the truth. “It’s kind of a weird feeling,” Stiemsma said. “You’re kind of in a funk, kind of not really motivated. I didn’t really do much with my teammates at the time, who were great. Some of my best friends now were even some of my teammates from then. But it was kind of laying around, sleeping a lot. If I didn’t have to go to practice, I probably wouldn’t leave my bedroom. I’d just go get something to eat and that’s about it.” CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Greg Stiemsma 

“Between [academics] and basketball not going as well as he wanted to on the floor, he started becoming more and more withdrawn, sad, almost to the point where he really didn’t care about basketball,” Perez-Guerra told CSNNE.com in a telephone interview. “He was looking more towards, why was he feeling this way -- ‘Why am I here? I’m not sure I really need to be here or I don’t deserve to be here.’ There were a lot of complicated issues that he was dealing with.” CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Greg Stiemsma 

“Some tears were shed [when I found out],“ he recalled. “That was one of those days where I didn’t want to do anything. I had to be at a couple of meetings. I just showed up and was there, but I wasn’t saying much. I was just thinking about all of the people that I let down, the whole town, my coaching staff, my teammates.” CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Greg Stiemsma 

The recovery process didn’t happen overnight. Stiemsma took a short period of time away from the basketball team, in which they supported him. After extensive conversations with his therapist, he was diagnosed with depression. Looking back now, Stiemsma believes there may have been glimpses of it prior to his sophomore year of college. At one point during high school, he went through a stretch where “basketball wasn’t as fun as it should be,” and met with his parents and coaches to talk about how he was feeling. “Maybe it was a little sign of it then, but not nearly to the extent,” Stiemsma said. “My mom always told me when I was younger and I was going through high school, ‘If you ever feel like you can’t really shake getting down, then don’t be afraid to go talk to somebody about it. She’s been aware of it and stuff, so I think I kind of knew something was off and I kind of figured it was that, but then once I actually got the diagnosis it was something to work on.” CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Greg Stiemsma 

The ups and downs tested the big man, but after overcoming his battle in college, he was equipped to tackle the challenges he faced on the way to the pros. “I learned it is a grind at times, but you’ve got to keep your eye on the bigger prize, a longer ways down the road,“ he said. “I really came to believe that things do happen for a reason. As crazy as it seems sometimes or maybe not as obvious as you might think sometimes, but things do happen for a reason and I’m just trying to follow the path that I know is out there for me. I try to remind myself of that every day.” CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Greg Stiemsma 

The Wizards were collecting technical fouls as if there was a shortage in the first quarter. Flip Saunders picked up two and got ejected after arguing with referee Eli Roe for a non-call and then grabbing his arm for an explanation. JaVale McGee was responsible for another two, because he didn’t move out of the lane quickly enough as the team was called for defensive three seconds. John Wall got the other technical for taunting after he drove in the lane, threw down a hard left-handed dunk on Boston Celtics center Greg Stiemsma, then glared at him. If a 6-foot-4 guy dunks all over a near 7-footer, you’d figure he had earned the right to do whatever he wanted. “I think I had the right to stare at him,” Wall said with a grin after the Wizards lost, 100-92, on Monday night. “I guess you can’t stare at people when stuff happen. I just stared at him at got a tech. It was the same thing when other people make plays, and the players say something to you and they don’t get nothing. I just had to keep my head the rest of the game because I didn’t want to get ejected and cost my teammates.” Washington Post

Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, John Wall, Javale McGee, Greg Stiemsma, Flip Saunders 

Scott Schroeder: Was just told that Greg Stiemsma has officially been informed he made the Boston Celtics. Those stories are why I enjoy the D- League. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Greg Stiemsma 

Gary Washburn: Former Wisconsin and current Sioux Falls SkyForce center Greg Stiemsma is headed to #Celtics' camp, according to a source Twitter

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Greg Stiemsma 

Gery Woelfel: Congrats to Brian Butch and Greg Stiemsma for making Pan-Am team. Twitter

USA Basketball, Brian Butch, Greg Stiemsma 

Team USA finalized its roster for the 2011 Pan-Am Games at the end of the month. As those following along should remember, the team is made up entirely of players signed to play in the NBA Development League this season and will be led by Nate Tibbetts, head coach of the Tulsa 66ers. The final roster seems to have a focus on defense and shooting as the 12 men included to represent Team USA includes guards Justin Dentmon, Blake Ahearn, Donald Sloan and Jerome Dyson; wings Renaldo Major, Moses Ehambe and Curtis Sumpter; forwards Leo Lyons, Marcus Lewis and Lance Thomas; and bigs Brian Butch and Greg Stiemsma. "Obviously this is a tough selection just because guys have competed at such a high level. They're doing what we've asked, they're all good guys, but we can only take 12. At the same time you've got to get 12 so we can relax, catch our breath, guys don't have to press now, this is our team and we can really focus on competing in the Pan Ams," Tibbetts said in a press release. Ridiculous Upside

USA Basketball, Brian Butch, Greg Stiemsma