On this day: Celtic champion Dan Swartz born; Bird triple-doubles

On this day in Celtics history, Boston forward Dan Swartz was born, and legend Larry Bird hung a triple-double on the Atlanta Hawks.

On this day in 1934, former Boston Celtics small forward Daniel S. Swartz was born in Owingsville, Kentucky. Swartz began his collegiate basketball career playing for the University of Kentucky Wildcats, but would transfer to Morehead State University in his sophomore season.

He would be selected by the Celtics with the 11th overall pick of the same draft (1956) in which Boston also drafted stars Bill Russell and K.C. Jones, but did not play for the team until the 1962-63, five seasons later. In the interim, Swartz played Amateur Athletic Union basketball with the Wichita Vipers, Cleveland Pipers and Philadelphia Tapers, as well as the American Basketball League’s (ABL – a short-lived competitor of the NBA) Los Angeles Jets.