Boston Celtics wing Sam Hauser has been a key part of the team’s success over the past four years. Hauser has blossomed from struggling to crack the rotation as a rookie to a consistent backup wing with a knack for shooting. His elite catch-and-shoot abilities make him a natural fit in the Celtics’ system.
Furthermore, in Hauser’s full three seasons, he has seen an impressive amount of team success, notably, the Celtics have won 50-plus games, made two NBA Finals, and one Eastern Conference Finals in this stretch. Of course, this includes last season, where the Celtics won 64 games en route to an NBA title. Due to this incredible amount of team success, Hauser has the highest regular season win percentage in NBA history, an impressive accomplishment, to say the least. Currently, the Celtics post a 19-4 record and are title favorites. As a result, Hauser is poised to keep this record. Notably, Hauser edges out Magic Johnson and Larry Bird for the top spot. Expanding the list further, Kawhi Leonard is the closest current player to Hauser with a 72.7 win percentage, good for sixth all-time.
Highest win percentage in NBA history (min. 200 games):
.744 — Sam Hauser
.740 — Magic Johnson
.736 — Larry BirdWow. pic.twitter.com/l7GUuyDcHF
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 5, 2024
Sam Hauser is the All-Time Leader in Win Percentage
Hauser’s Season So Far
Through 19 games this season, Hauser is averaging 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists on 37.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc. His 37.4 percent shooting from three is a career-low however, it’s on a career-high 6.1 attempts. During the last two games, Hauser has started to heat up in wins against the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks. Hauser chipped in 20 and five threes against the Pistons before pouring in 16 points and four threes against the Bucks. After beating the Bucks, Hauser’s win percentage slightly increased from 74.4 to 74.5.
Three games into December, Hauser is averaging 16.3 points on 50 percent shooting from three-point land. This could be a turning point for Hauser after a somewhat slow start. Hauser catching fire from three would further raise the Celtics’ upside and give the rest of the league nightmares.
Hauser’s Value to the Celtics
As a spot-up wing shooter off the bench, Hauser has immense value. While Payton Pritchard‘s incredible season has outshadowed Hauser a little, there’s no denying he is still highly valuable. Hauser’s high-quality play ensures the Celtics can not survive but thrive with Jayson Tatum and/or Jaylen Brown off the court. He also gives the Celtics a quality starting option if they are dealing with injuries. Notably, he has started in two of the last three games; Brown was sidelined with an injury when Hauser started against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Tatum was out against the Pistons. When he’s on the court, Hauser has an absurd 124.4 offensive rating, which is the best on the roster, he also has an impressive 10.3 net rating. Hauser’s elite shooting allows him to fit with any lineup.
However, Hauser’s impact goes beyond just shooting his high basketball IQ also stands out. Hauser is simply always in the right place; he is an active rebounder and always willing to make the extra pass. Despite not being the most athletic player and constantly being attacked defensively, Hauser’s IQ and positioning allow him to be a respectable defender. Ultimately, Hauser’s impact often goes under the radar, however, he is critical to the Celtics’ success, and his all-time leading win percentage highlights his impact.
The post Sam Hauser is the All-Time Leader in this Crucial Stat appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.