It is also the date of the 1953 NBA Draft, which was held in Boston, Massachusetts. Several notable players were taken by the Celtics, including a trio of Kentucky Wildcats.
Lou Tsioropoulos was the first, a forward drafted 24th overall, and would play three seasons for Boston.
Happy 83th B-Day to Lou Tsioropoulos, 1 Time NCAA champ & 2 time @NBA champ (1957/1959) with @celtics pic.twitter.com/gPOzBcYjDZ
— La Butaca (@_labutaca) August 31, 2013
Tsioropoulos averaged 5.8 points, 4.8 boards and 1.1 assists in those seasons.
Forward Cliff Hagan was the second, selected 13th overall, but never played for the Celtics.
Instead, he served in the military, and was dealt along with center Ed Macauley for big man Bill Russell’s contract in 1956.
The third of the trio was Hall of Fame wing Frank Ramsey, taken fifth overall. Ramsey would go on to win seven championships over his nine seasons in the league, all with Boston.
He averaged 13.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game over his career.