Corey Green

While in college, Lester Hudson stayed in the spotlight during his brief tenure at UT-Martin, recording quadruple-doubles and averaging more than 27-points a game. Now a member of the Boston Celtics, Hudson watched as his new team beat the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedExForum on Monday night.

It was a homecoming of sorts for Hudson, 25. The Memphis native (Central High School, Southwest Tennessee Community College) didn’t get a chance to play, but he did help bring in the 110-105 win.

When the final buzzer sounded, forward Kevin Garnett got Hudson in a headlock as the Celtics walked off the court.“It’s been a great experience for me,” Hudson said. “Being around the veteran guys on the team; they’ve been helping me out a lot. It’s been great so far.”

The Grizzlies fought the Boston the Celtics to the wire, creating some anxious moments for Memphis native Lester Hudson (center) and NBA All-Stars Ray Allen (left) and Kevin Garnett. (Photos by Warren Roseborough)

Lester Hudson developed his hoop skills at Central High School and Southwest Tennessee Community College before transferring to UT-Martin and making it to the NBA.

With the victory Boston improved to an NBA-best 12-1 on the road and won its 11th straight game. Hudson hasn’t been much of a factor – yet  – with the Celtics, averaging 3.8 minutes, 0.8 points, 0.4 assist, and 0.2 steals in 13 games played this year.

But that hasn’t reduced his drive to learn more about the game.

“I’m learning everything,” Hudson said. “I’m trying to learn how to run a team, and (Rajon) Rondo helps me. He’s a great point guard. He’s like top five in the league. So if I get up to his ability I’ll be a great point guard too. That’s why we workout before games; it helps his offense and my defense.”

With Rondo and Eddie House getting the majority of the minutes at point guard for the Celtics, Hudson will go down to the NBA Development League for a short stint to get a little playing time.

“It’s important to continue to learn the game,” said Rondo. “I’m his guy and he asks questions and I try to give him as many answers as possible. I go out there and try to show him by example. There’s a natural bond we have. He’s a point and I’m a point. I don’t look at him as a competitor. We’re teammates. The better he gets, the better I get. So I try to encourage him to give his best effort and do the best he can do.”

Even 13-year guard Ray Allen embraces Hudson.

“He’s probably one of the better rookies I’ve had, that I’ve seen,” Allen said. “He takes care of himself. He can shoot the ball. He’s a point guard in every sense of the word. I’ve seen a lot of point guards come and go in this league, and I think he has the potential to be a good one, as long as he understands what he has to do and get better.”

In the hunt for a NBA championship run, surrounded by future Hall-of-Famers such as Allen, Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rasheed Wallace, Hudson is standing where so many young men want to be.

“Since the first day...everybody welcomed me with open hands,” he said. “My teammates help out a lot. It’s like I’m dreaming right now. This is an unbelievable team. I think this is a great opportunity for me.”