On this day in Boston Celtics history, legendary Boston Celtics big man Kevin McHale was born in Hibbing, Minnesota in 1957.
McHale would not stray far from home to play his college ball, playing for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, where he won All-Big Ten honors in 1979 and 1980. The 6-foot-10 power forward would be taken third in the 1980 NBA draft after general manager Red Auerbach dealt Boston’s No. 1 pick for center Robert Parish and the selection used to take McHale. The deal would set up the Celtics to have one of the greatest frontcourts of all time along with small forward Larry Bird.
The Minnesotan would make NBA All-Rookie First Team in his inaugural season in the league and would win his first title at the end of it in 1981.