On this day in Boston Celtics history, champion Celtics sharpshooter Ray Allen was born in Merced, California. A military kid, Allen “grew up” in a lot of places, but would graduate high school in Dalzell, South Carolina. He attended the University of Connecticut for college, where he won Big East and UPI Player of the Year awards in 1996 during his time with the Huskies.
He would end up being drafted fifth overall in the 1996 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, but was quickly dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks in a draft-night trade, and would remain in Milwaukee for parts of seven seasons.
He would also play for the Seattle Supersonics for 5 campaigns before being dealt to the Celtics in the summer of 2007.