But Hudson would never suit up for that game.  In a move that shocked most of Celtics nation, if not Hudson himself, the Celtics cut Hudson even before the game was played.  The Celtics front office had him travel with the team to Miami, only to give him the news that his professional basketball career was being put on hold.

“I was down for a couple days when Danny Ainge told me the news,” Hudson told the Jackson Sun.

And, really, who wouldn’t be?  The Celtics were Hudson’s first professional franchise, the team that drafted him, the only NBA team he knew.  Then, suddenly, the day before the remainder of his one-year contract would become guaranteed, Lester found himself teamless and jobless.

You would think Hudson would hold a grudge against the Celtics for the way his time there ended, right?  That he would be hostile with the situation, vindictive with the way Boston terminated his days as a Celtic?

Wrong.  Hudson is only thankful for the opportunity the Celtics provided him and excited for his time on the Memphis Grizzlies, where he was picked off waivers and will begin the second stop of his NBA career.

In Memphis, Hudson should be afforded a better opportunity to play than he was given on the veteran-laden Celtics.

“[Hudson] was never going to play significant minutes in Boston,” said Hudson’s agent, Lance Young. “But now he will be a big part of the Grizzlies’ second unit.

“This is a blessing in disguise because he has a chance to play, and the Grizzlies happen to be a playoff contender.”

Hudson, a Memphis product himself, is pleased about returning to his hometown to play for the Grizzlies, but hasn’t forgotten the lessons he learned in Boston. 

“I really learned a lot from that group of veterans,” he said. ”Especially on how to act like a professional.”

For Hudson to take being waived so graciously, the C’s must have taught him well.