On this day: former Boston Celtics forward Antoine Walker born

On this day, former Boston Celtics forward Employee No. Eight — better known as Antoine Walker — was born in Chicago, Illinois.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, former Celtics forward Antoine Walker was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1976. Walker played his college ball at the University of Kentucky, where he won an NCAA title in 1996, and he was drafted by the Celtics with the 6th pick of the 1996 NBA draft.

Walker made All-Rookie First Team in his inaugural season in the NBA, and, he reunited with college coach Rick Pitino when the former Kentucky coach took over as head coach and team president of Boston the following season. The Chicagoan played eight seasons with the Celtics in two stints.

He played seven seasons with Boston in his first stint, during which he was elected to three All-Star teams before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks.

Boston Celtics forward Antoine Walker gestures to quiet the Indiana Pacers crowd shouting defense after hitting a bucket late in the fourth quarter of the sixth game of the opening round of the NBA playoffs in Indianapolis, in this May 5, 2005 photo. In the largest trade in NBA history, Antoine Walker was dealt from Boston to Miami on Tuesday night Aug. 2 in a transaction involving five teams and 13 players. AP Photo/Michael Conroy