Boston used the 27th pick in the 2026 draft on Chris Cenac Jr., a 6-foot-11 forward and center. The team's June 24 report described a prospect whose rebounding and athleticism addressed qualities the Celtics wanted to add.
Brad Stevens praised Cenac's effort while also saying he had substantial learning ahead. That combination is a useful starting point for evaluating a rookie: the physical tools can be visible before the NBA reads become consistent.
Cenac arrived after one season at Houston, where he averaged 9.5 points. He shot 33.3 percent from three, offering a reason to follow his outside shooting without assuming it is already an established NBA weapon.
In his first Celtics season, possession-by-possession progress will be more informative than a single highlight. Watch his positioning on rebounds and the decisions that follow catches away from the basket.
Source: No. 27 pick Chris Cenac Jr. brings size, athleticism and motor to Boston.
Watch the decision-makers explain the pick
The accompanying video is Boston's own post-draft press conference with Brad Stevens. Its title covers both Cenac and the separate discussion around Jaylen Brown, so viewers should expect broader roster questions alongside the draft evaluation.
For this profile, use the Cenac discussion to hear the team's assessment in its original setting. It is a draft-night account, not an announcement of a starting job or a training-camp result. Keep the timing in mind when comparing the remarks with what happens during the season.
A familiar route to Boston
Houston's own draft announcement places Cenac in a longer Celtics connection. He became the fifth Houston player selected by Boston, and the first since Michael Young went 24th in 1984. Earlier selections included Don Chaney in 1968, Gary Phillips in 1961 and Don Boldebuck in 1956.
That history does not predict Cenac's career, but it adds a specific franchise thread to draft night. His immediate preparation was much shorter: one college season, with 36 starts in 37 appearances for a Houston team that finished 30-7 and reached the Sweet 16. The school's account documents that workload. Boston is evaluating a young player who already handled regular starts, while asking him to learn a different level of competition.
