From point guard Derrick White to head coach Joe Mazzulla, there is consensus among the Celtics that it is a team effort driving Boston’s success early in the 2025-26 NBA regular season, and that the bench has been a big part of it. But 3-and-D Celtics sharpshooter Sam Hauser has a finer-grained analysis of what it has been making his fellow reserves help the team exceed the expectations Boston would be in something of a ‘gap year’ while Jayson Tatum recovers from a torn Achilles tendon sustained in the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. the New York Knicks.

Speaking after the Celtics’ 120-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center this past Thursday (Jan. 1) evening, the VCU alum shared his opinion on the secret to Boston winning seven of their last 10 games and rising to the Eastern Conference’s third seed.

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“Everybody’s got a role, and it’s just trying to star in that,” said Hauser of what he sees as how the bench has been impacting winning.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 29: Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics reacts after making a three-point basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter of a game at the TD Garden on October 29, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 29: Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics reacts after making a three-point basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter of a game at the TD Garden on October 29, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)

“Take Luka, for example, he just goes in and plays his tail off every single night,” added Hauser. “And (he) out-works the other big every single night that he’s playing — so that’s a role that he embodies. (Anfernee Simons) comes in, he scores the heck out of the rock. I come in and try to knock down shots, but everybody has their specific thing.”

“You’re supposed to come in and bring energy, guard the other team’s best player. So I think we all understand that, and that’s what makes it fun and easy to go out and know exactly what you’re asked to do.”

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Sam Hauser on how the bench has powered Celtics success this season