On this day in Boston Celtics history, small forward Jiří Welsch was born in Pardubice, in what is today the Czech Republic in 1980. Welsh began his basketball career in Europe playing for BK JIP Pardubice of the Czech Republic League, CSA Sparta Prague, and Union Olimpija Ljubljana before being picked up by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 16th overall pick of the 2002 NBA draft.
He was dealt to the Golden State Warriors on draft night for future draft assets and would play with them for one season before being dealt again, this time to the Dallas Mavericks in the offseason.
Welsch would be traded yet again soon after, this time to the Boston Celtics for Antoine Walker and Tony Delk.