Liputan6.com, Jakarta The professional basketball world of the NBA has once again been rocked by a player transfer, this time involving Reggie Jason Luis Jr., better known as RJ Luis Jr.
As reported by ESPN, the young shooting guard and small forward officially joined the Boston Celtics via a two-way contract swap.
This move comes after he initially signed with the Utah Jazz following the 2025 NBA Draft.
It also opens up a significant opportunity for Luis Jr. to showcase his skills on one of the NBA's leading teams.
Commenting on Boston's Tuesday moves, one fan tweeted: “So the Celtics basically traded Georges Niang and two second-round picks for Chris Boucher and RJ Luis Jr.”
The 22-year-old's career, from college to the NBA, has been filled with dynamics and bold decisions.
Standing at 6 feet 6 inches (2.01 meters) and weighing 200 pounds (98 kg), Luis Jr. is known as a physical and aggressive wing, ready to make significant contributions on the court.
Complete Profile of RJ Luis Jr.
Reggie Jason Luis Jr., born on November 27, 2002, in Miami, Florida, United States, is a basketball talent of Dominican and Ecuadorian descent.
He began his high school basketball career at Mt. Zion Prep Academy and Christopher Columbus High School, before continuing his higher education at the UMass Minutemen (2022–2023) and St. John's Red Storm (2023–2025).
During his collegiate career, Luis Jr. showed great potential as a versatile player. In the 2022–23 season at UMass, he averaged 11.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, shooting 45.5% from the field.
Despite being hampered by a hand injury during his 2023–24 season at St. John's, he still averaged 10.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
RJ Luis Jr.'s playing style Known as a big, physical wing, he's very effective at attacking the rim, both in transition and in the halfcourt.
He possesses excellent rebounding ability for his position and frequently creates offensive rebound opportunities.
He also possesses a strong pull-up game from the mid-range, making him a versatile offensive threat.
Career Journey and Brilliant Awards
The 2024-2025 season was a peak for RJ Luis Jr. at the collegiate level, winning numerous prestigious awards that cemented his status as one of the best players.
These achievements reflected his dedication and hard work on the court.
He earned recognition from various leading basketball associations.Some of his notable awards include:
- Consensus Second Team All-American
- Associated Press (AP) Second Team All-American
- U.S. Basketball Writers' Association (USBWA) All-America Second Team
- BIG EAST Player of the Year
- Dave Gavitt Trophy as BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player
- Naismith Trophy National Player of the Year Semifinalist
- Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Finalist
Despite a stellar college career and multi-million dollar contract offers from top programs, Luis Jr. made the bold decision to enter the 2025 NBA Draft directly.
He saw it as a "bet on himself" to pursue his dream of playing in the world's most prestigious basketball league.
Dramatic Transfer to the Boston Celtics
Despite being undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, RJ Luis Jr. didn't give up.
On June 26, 2025, he signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz, a crucial first step in his NBA career.
However, not long after, on August 5, 2025, Luis Jr. returned to the spotlight after the Utah Jazz traded him to the Boston Celtics.
The trade involved Georges Niang and two future second-round picks from the Celtics.
The primary reason behind the move was the Celtics' strategy to reduce salary cap space and stay under the NBA's luxury tax "second apron."
Luis Jr.'s two-way contract, which doesn't count against Boston's salary cap, provides significant financial flexibility for the team.
This move reportedly saved the team over $40 million in salary and taxes and even facilitated the signing of Chris Boucher.
With Jayson Tatum likely out for the 2025-26 season due to an Achilles injury, Luis Jr.'s role as a powerful wing will be crucial.