On this day: Jones, Sharman born; Pierce leads 21-point rally vs. Nets

On this day, Boston Celtics guard legends K.C. Jones and Bill Sharman were born, and Paul Pierce almost single-handedly beat the Nets in 2002.

It is also the birthday of ex-Celtic shooting guard Bill Sharman, who played for the team between 1951 and 1961.

Sharman was born in 1926 in Abilene, Texas, and played in the NCAA ranks with USC, and was drafted by the Washington Capitols 17th overall in the 1950 NBA Draft.

That franchise would fold after Sharman’s rookie season, with the (then) Fort Wayne Pistons drafting the former Trojan in the dispersal draft. The Pistons then traded Sharman to Boston.

The Abilene native won four banners with the Celtics, was elected to eight All-Star games, seven All-NBA teams and several other honors over his 10-season career with the team.

He averaged 18.1 points, 3.9 points, and 2.4 assists per game in Boston.