Former Michigan Wolverines guard and former Big Ten Player of the Year Nik Stauskas was always known as a stellar long-range shooter and scorer, but his best skill didn’t quite translate to the National Basketball Association at the level that many had hoped.
Stauskas has managed to play six seasons in the NBA, however, averaging a career high of 9.5 points in 2016-2017 for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Still, there have been doubts about whether the Ontario, Canada native would ever make it back to the big show.
Then, history happened in the NBA G-League.
Stauskas, a former first-round pick, lit up the scoreboard for the Grand Rapids Gold, scoring 100 points combined in a historic two-game stretch.
His big week culminated in a new contract with the Boston Celtics.
Nik Stauskas is signing a two-year deal with the Boston Celtics, his agents Mark Bartelstein and Andy Shiffman of @PrioritySports tell ESPN. Stauskas had an historic week, scoring 100 points on 57 and 43 point performances in back-to-back games for Grand Rapids.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 4, 2022
On Tuesday night, Stauskas scored 57 points, but what made it even more remarkable is that he was on his way to walking away from the game he loved just prior to taking the court.
Nik Stauskas almost retired before his breakout game. ? pic.twitter.com/b7MKwMOu7J
— theScore (@theScore) March 4, 2022
One day later, Stauskas put up 43 points, tallying 100 in less than a week and showcasing the sharpshooting that made him a fan favorite, and an opposing team’s nightmare, at the University of Michigan.
Most fans don’t realize this, but Stauskas has Boston-area roots.
The Celtics have signed Nik Stauskas to a 2-year deal.
Stauskas developed into a high major prospect at St. Mark's School in the Boston area. pic.twitter.com/uI6a5fmaGw
— LaVar Pop (@lavarpopovich) March 4, 2022
Stauskas has a 41.6% mark from three-point range on a high number of attempts this season with the Gold, an affiliate team of the Denver Nuggets.
His 57 points on Tuesday tied for sixth-best in G-League history.
? 57 PTS – 20/29 FG – 11/15 3PT ?
Nik Stauskas MADE HISTORY! The @NBAGrandRapids star went off for a career-high and franchise record tonight. His 57 points is tied for the sixth highest scoring game in G League history. pic.twitter.com/HC92SU78tw
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) March 2, 2022
Sauce Castillo is a Celtic! ☘️
He can hit threes (41.6 3P% on 209 3PA in the G-League this year), and scored 100 points combined in his last two games for Grand Rapids Gold ?
Best of Nik Stauskas ▶️ https://t.co/1tuiRcICN8 pic.twitter.com/9r7trdq5vr
— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) March 4, 2022
Stauskas had appeared in two games earlier this season for the Miami Heat, his first action since the 2018-2019 season, where he joined fellow Michigan three-point ace Duncan Robinson.
Boston currently ranks 22nd in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage at 34.5%, while Stauskas has an NBA career average of 35.4%, which would rank 12th among all NBA teams, tied with Denver’s 34.5% team percentage.
Stauskas could see playoff action as soon as this season, with Boston currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference at 38-27.
