“I think he's earned it,” Doc Rivers said. “I think he's ready for it.”

It's always nice for a player to hear words of encouragement from his coach, especially when minutes are scarce. But Boston Celtics guard Gabe Pruitt gets pep talks straight from the top.

Celtics President Danny Ainge has made a conscious effort to reach out to Pruitt since he was drafted in 2007. With the majority of the championship team still intact, Ainge knew playing time would still be limited. So he gave the quiet 22-year-old a pep talk at the start of the season.

“We did have a talk and he was telling me just hang in there,” Pruitt said. “He doesn't want me to be getting caught up off the court given the fact that I'm not playing and taking it as, I'm not going to play so don't be ready and just get off track. He said to keep it in my head because any time it could happen. He just told me to hang in there, keep working hard, but don't let any outside distractions distract you.”

Ainge has kept a close eye on Pruitt's career since he selecting him with the 32nd pick out of the University of Southern California. When Pruitt was assigned to the Utah Flash in the NBA Development League last season, Ainge was there. When Pruitt spent this summer working out in California, Ainge was there. No matter where Pruitt was, Ainge wanted him to know he was there for him.
 
“Even last year when I was in Utah and wasn't suiting up, he was always in my corner,” Pruitt said. “He always understood where I was coming from and always let me know he was there, he was always a phone call away, an email away even in the summer time. This summer he called me and wanted to fly out to San Francisco to watch a workout and even do the workout with me, so he's always involved and that means a lot to me that he's that much involved with my development and my career.”

Rather than complaining, Pruitt has stayed focused. He looked to Leon Powe's increase in minutes as a testament of patience; he watches games from the bench with the knowledgeable Sam Cassell, and he always keeps Ainge's message in mind when he is itching to play.

“I've just been anxious, knowing that it's right there and it could happen at any moment,” Pruitt said. “So I'm just sitting there at the edge of my seat just waiting. I wasn't getting off track at all. My mind wasn't wandering at all. But [talking with Danny] just reminds me to stay in there.”

On Monday the waiting paid off. With Eddie House mourning the loss of his aunt, Pruitt got the call off the bench. He entered the game averaging less than 90 seconds per contest and gave the Celtics nine solid minutes, hitting a pair of critical three-pointers.

“I try to stay patient and not let myself get down,” he said following the Celtics 100-91 victory over the Utah Jazz. “Whenever my number's called I just have to perform and do good things.”

Whether Pruitt plays 10 minutes or ten seconds, it's a lot easier for him to play the waiting game knowing that Ainge is behind him.

“It means a lot. It means that they care,” he said. “They easily could just let me go and do whatever, trade me, see somewhere else, send me to the D-League, but it shows that he cares and that he's concerned and he has my best interest at heart. And that means a lot to me.”

Jessica Camerato is a regular contributor for WEEI.com.