On this day in 1979, former Boston Celtics small forward M.L. Carr joined the Celtics for the second time as a free agent.
The first time Carr signed with Boston was in 1974, and he did not make the team, instead going overseas to play in Israel, and then the American Basketball Association’s (ABA) Spirit of St. Louis.
After the ABA merged with the NBA and the Spirit of St. Louis did not, Carr joined the Detroit Pistons under Dick Vitale, and then the Celtics afterwards.
“The whole country is looking for answers to the energy crisis; we found ours,” said Boston head coach Bill Fitch at the time (via the Washington Post’s Ron Rosen).
“This is a Carr that is energy efficient and gets plenty of miles to the gallon.”
Carr would play six seasons with the Celtics, averaging 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game with the Celtics, and would later coach and be the general manager of the team as well.