Tremont Waters; Isaiah Thomas. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images; Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — New Celtics rookie Tremont Waters definitely has a chip on his shoulder after being drafted 51st overall out of Louisiana State.
In fact, Waters decided to wear number 51 in Summer League as a motivator because he believes he should've been selected higher.
The guard sees a lot of himself in former Celts fan favorite Isaiah Thomas.
"I feel like the pick is just a number, because obviously I feel like everyone feels as if they should be a first-round pick," Waters said. "Just to know that I was picked 51st, it doesn't make me hold a grudge or anything, but I'm definitely out here to prove a lot, like Isaiah Thomas. He was a smaller guard that came into the league, there were probably a lot of doubters in him. But he just showed that, as long as he remains himself and plays basketball and has the heart that he had, it takes care of itself."
Thomas was the last pick of the 2011 draft, but averaged 25 points a game over parts of three seasons in Boston before a hip injury derailed his career.
Waters also admitted to liking another polarizing C's point guard.
"This might touch some people, but growing up in high school, I watched a lot of Kyrie Irving videos," he said.
WBZ NewsRadio's Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) reports