Terry Rozier has the makeup of an NBA superstar. 

His lateral quickness is insane. His speed from one basket to the other is off the charts. He can slash and drive to the hoop. He can pull up from 3-Point range and knock it down at a regular rate. He has made big steal after big steal after big steal. He even grabs rebounds. 

Rozier is, hands down, one of the most athletic guards in the NBA. You can compare his game at times to the likes of Dwayne Wade or John Wall when he goes coast to coast.

You can compare his defensive tenacity to Tony Allen.

But the one difference between Rozier and other all-star players is that Rozier is not an all-star. In fact, he is not even a starter. 

When you look at Rozier’s career thus far, it is obvious that he has not had the smoothest transition from college to the pros.

Drafted 16th overall out of Louisville in 2015, Rozier had to grind his way to even make the team roster. In college, Rozier was a stud. However, in the NBA, Rozier looked passive, undeveloped, and didn’t see the court his first year.

Spending time in the D-League and in the NBA, it took Rozier a full season before he received any significant playing time.

Before last season, fans and media members forgot about his presence. Chalk him up to another athletic guard that Danny drafted who couldn’t develop.

However, last season, Rozier started showing improvement and fans realized that he may actually play for this team in the future. 

Nowadays, so many players come into the league and play right away. When they don’t, people think that player is a bust. But it is important to remember that going from college to the pros is an adjustment, and for some players, it can take a couple of years. Remember Avery Bradley?

Like Rozier, Bradley looked raw and did not receive playing time in his first season. It even took Avery four seasons before he averaged double figures in scoring. However, once Avery developed his outside shot, he became a solid NBA shooting guard.

This season, Rozier has developed into a weapon off the bench. He is now in full attack mode when he enters the game and he has simply been a difference maker. He has made big steals and has hit big 3s when the Celtics need them, and he has been crucial to the team’s success. When Rozier plays well, the Celtics typically do too. 

So, I ask the question: What is the ceiling for Terry Rozier?

Well, in three games as the starting point guard, Rozier put up all-star type numbers, and we saw a little bit of what Terry Rozier can be when he plays starter-like minutes and has the ball in his hands. 

In his first ever career start, Rozier had a triple-double! He scored 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Rozier followed up that triple-double with a career-high 31 points and seven rebounds in his second start.

Celtics fans are excited about seeing Gordon Hayward. They are excited about Jason Tatum’s future. They are excited about Jaylen Brown’s athleticism. But I don’t sense the same excitement around Terry Rozier.

There should be!

Not only did Rozier put up big numbers as a starter, but he has also shown a ton of confidence. When Rozier played with the starting unit, he was looking for his shot and attacking constantly. Even when he is coming off the bench this season, Rozier is looking to create plays, and it is clear that Brad Stevens and the Celtics players have full trust in Terry Rozier.

At his peak, there is no reason why Rozier cannot be a top 20 player in the league. However, it all depends on whether he gets the opportunity to be a starter. If Rozier was on a weak team and could start, he could put up big numbers, like Avery Bradley did for the Celtics.

Every single year in the NBA, Rozier’s numbers have improved. According to Basketball-Reference, here are how Rozier’s numbers break down by year:

2015-16: 8.0 minutes/game, 1.8 PTS, 0.9 AST, 1.6 REB, FG%= .27, 3P%= .22

2016-17: 17.1 minutes/game, 5.5 PTS, 1.8 AST, 3.1 REB, FG%= .37, 3P%= .32

2017-18: 24.3 minutes/game, 10.5 PTS, 2.5 AST, 4.4 REB, FG%= .40, 3P%= .39

At some point, Rozier’s numbers will stop improving. But at what point?

There is no reason why Rozier can’t average 18 to 20 points per game. His shooting needs to get more consistent, but overall, he has a complete game. However, on this already deep Celtics team, Rozier will not receive enough minutes or shot attempts to put up big numbers and evolve from a complementary piece (especially with Gordon Hayward coming back next season).

If I had to hold onto six Celtics players, here is my list: Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown, Jason Tatum, Al Horford, Terry Rozier.

Can Rozier be the sixth man of the future?

Absolutely. But the Celtics would be holding him back from his true scoring potential if he was in that role. He is not a Jamal Crawford or Lou Williams who can drain from beyond the arc once they step on the court. He is a different type of player. He is a slasher and a playmaker. He is a player on the upswing who has massive potential and has the skills to be an All-Star in this league.

He just needs the opportunity.

Cue the steal: