Tag: abdel nader

On this day: Auerbach coaches 1st game; Theis, Nader, Johnson, Clyde, Mazzulla debuts; Russell tribute

On this day in Celtics history, franchise icon Red Auerbach coached his first game with the team, Bill Russell was honored, and several Celtics made their debut.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, franchise legend Red Auerbach coached his first game as head coach and general manager of the Boston Celtics in 1950. Auerbach had just joined the team after the resignation of the first coach in team history, Alvin “Doggy” Julian, having previously worked as an assistant coach at Duke, and as head coach of the (then) Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now, Atlanta Hawks) before leaving the latter post after a disagreement with ownership.

Red had inherited a team with a 22-46 record and a desperate owner trying not to go belly-up who made an unusual decision towards that end that panned out in a big way.

That owner, Walter Brown, actually asked a number of local sportswriters who he ought to hire as a coach for the team, and after being recommended Auerbach by the crowd, extended an offer.

Who are the best international players to play for the Boston Celtics?

From Charlie Hoefer to Alaa Abdenaby to Rick Fox to Kristaps Porzingis, there has been no shortage of players who were born abroad who have worn the green and white.

The Boston Celtics are a storied franchise for more than just their titles. They have been a trailblazing team in terms of signing and fielding players from all over the world, a philosophy that started in their first season.

From Charlie Hoefer to Alaa Abdelnaby to Rick Fox to Kristaps Porzingis, there has been no shortage of players born abroad who have worn the green and white.

But who were the best and who were the worst? What criteria should we use to judge them across eras? In the spirit of the annual arrival of #RankingSeason, the thing to do is try.

And try the hosts of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” did on a recent episode.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear how they assessed the international Celtics of all time.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. 28

Today’s installment focuses on the 14 players who wore No. 28 over the years as of August 2023.

The Boston Celtics have more retired jerseys than any other team in the NBA, but that doesn’t mean the rest of their jerseys have little history of interest tied to them.

In fact, with 17 titles to their name and decades of competitive basketball played in them, their unretired jersey numbers pack in some of the most history not hanging from the rafters of any team in the league. To that end, we have launched our accounting of that history, with every player in every jersey worn by more than one Celtics player in the storied franchise’s history accounted for.

Today’s installment focuses on the 14 players who wore No. 28 over the years as of August 2023.

12 Boston Celtics included in HoopsHype ‘best player in country history’ list

Let’s take a look at which Boston alumni made the cut — and what countries they hail from.

The Boston Celtics are a founding member and the most storied ball club of the league now known as the NBA, having been among the handful of teams from the era of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) days as the precursor league that would grow into today’s NBA was called.

So it should not surprise that the players who have worn the green and white over the nearly eight decades of existence of the franchise have at times been among the best to play the game anywhere in the world. In fact, there is a notable number of Celtics alumni present in a HoopsHype assessment of the best players to come from specific countries around the globe.

Let’s take a look at which Boston alumni made the cut — and what countries they hail from.

On this day: Avery Bradley, Abdel Nader inked; Bill Dinwiddie, Luke Kornet born

On this day, the Boston Celtics re-signed Avery Bradley and Abdel Nader, and former Boston big man Bill Dinwiddie was born.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the Celtics re-signed guard Avery Bradley to a four-year, $32 million deal, fully guaranteed with no player or team options in 2014.

Bradley had been drafted by the Celtics with the 19th overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft out of the University of Texas and would remain with the team until the final season of that new contract. After he began its final season, he would be traded to the Detroit Pistons with draft assets in exchange for small forward Marcus Morris Sr., one of the last remaining players from the team’s last era of contention.

Bradley’s trade was necessitated by the signing of former Utah Jazz All-Star forward Gordon Hayward in the summer of 2017. He averaged 12.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while with the team.

On this day: McHale, Embry, Thompson inducted; Brown, Moore drafted

On this day, Kevin McHale, Wayne Embry, and John Thompson were inducted into the Hall of Fame, and Jaylen Brown and E’Twaun Moore were drafted.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, franchise legends Kevin McHale, Wayne Embry, and John Thompson were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. McHale had been drafted by the Celtics out of the University of Minnesota with the third overall pick of the 1980 NBA draft.

That deal for that pick, which Boston had acquired along with big man Robert Parish in exchange for the top overall pick of that draft, was widely considered to be one of the most lopsided deals in league history. McHale would have an immediate impact on the young core being built around forward phenomenon Larry Bird.

Along with Parish, forward Cedric Maxwell, point guard Dennis Johnson and shooting guard Danny Ainge, the Celtics would form a dynasty he would win three championships with in the 1980s.

Former Thunder wing Abdel Nader could get more playing time in Finals

With injuries to Torrey Craig and Dario Saric, the Phoenix Suns may go to former Thunder wing Abdel Nader for minutes off the bench in the NBA Finals.

Former Oklahoma City Thunder wing Abdel Nader, who was part of the Chris Paul trade with the Phoenix Suns, missed the first 13 games of the playoffs due to a knee injury. After getting a little bit of time against the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round, he might be thrown into action in the NBA Finals.

Suns backup big Dario Saric tore the ACL in his right knee in Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks. In Game 2, forward Torrey Craig suffered a knee injury, one that reportedly has no structural damage but will leave him day-to-day ahead of the Sunday Game 3.

Saric’s absence forced the Suns to go more small ball. They clearly do not want to play Frank Kaminsky, who lost his rotation spot against the Denver Nuggets. The only action Kaminsky saw against the Clippers in the Western Conference Finals was after Patrick Beverley shoved Paul from behind, and he played just one minute over the first two Finals games despite the injury to Saric.

Instead, Cam Johnson and Craig got minutes off the bench as the Suns used wing-heavy lineups when center Deandre Ayton took the bench.

If Craig misses time, Nader may be the player to step in.

The former Thunder wing appeared in three games against the Clippers and then had just under a minute of play in Game 2 against the Bucks.

He spent quite a bit of time this season injured, only appearing in 24 regular season games, but he posted 6.7 points while shooting 41.9% from 3 in about 15 minutes per appearance.

The Suns need that floor spacing, and if he can provide versatile defense, he would have more value than Kaminsky.

Nader played in 55 games for the Thunder last season, during which he averaged 6.3 points and shot 37.5% from 3 in 15.8 minutes per game.

While he hasn’t had much run with the Suns, last season gave him familiarity with Paul, who is the lead ball handler for Phoenix.

The Suns hope Craig will be able to roll. He has been a productive part of the team, particularly on defense.

But if both Craig and Saric are out, Phoenix would have a question mark for their eighth man. Nader may be in position to step up.

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With the Los Angeles Clippers eliminated, which Celtics alumni are still in the 2021 NBA Playoffs?

There may not be any current Celtics in the postseason, but four Boston alumni could still win a ring.

While the Boston Celtics are no longer in title contention, there are still Celtics alumni in the running for a ring in the 2021 NBA Playoffs. But, the field of former Boston players still playing ball just took a hit with the elimination of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Old friends Rajan Rondo and Marcus Morris Sr. won’t be picking up a ring this year, but four former Celtics on two of the three remaining teams could still earn themselves the league’s most important hardware. With no Boston alumni on the Atlanta Hawks, that means if a former Celtic is going to help hand a banner this season, it’ll be with either the Milwaukee Bucks or the Phoenix Suns.

Let’s take a look at which Boston alumni might be celebrating at the end of July.

Ex-Celtic forward Abdel Nader headed to Suns as part of Chris Paul deal

Former Boston Celtic forward Abdel Nader is on his way to Phoenix as part of the deal sending Chris Paul to the Suns from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

You may have seen a familiar face included in one of the first big deals of the 2020-21 offseason — former Boston Celtic small forward Abdel Nader.

The Iowa State product was dealt along with Chris Paul from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Phoenix Suns Monday, his former team returning Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and their 2022 first-round pick — not a bad haul!

The Celtics traded Nader to Oklahoma City in the summer of 2018 in exchange for former UConn guard standout Rodney Purvis, and the Egyptian swingman continued to make the most of the opportunities he’s been giving, working his way into the team’s rotation.

That’s quite a remarkable feat for a player drafted 58th overall by the Celtics in the 2016 NBA draft; Nader averaged 6.3 points and 1.8 rebounds per game last season with the Thunder, shooting 37.5% from beyond the arc and 46.8% overall.

Those numbers might not get you into an All-Star game, but it’s nice to see the hard-working prospect panning out somewhere — even if it isn’t with Boston.

With the Suns now thin on the wing after moving Oubre to OKC, Nader should continue to have a shot at growing his role in his new home, too.

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Thunder to trade Chris Paul to Suns for Kelly Oubre Jr. and others

The Thunder will reportedly receive Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick.

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With the transactional moratorium period lifted by the NBA ahead of the 2020-21 season, the Oklahoma City Thunder reportedly struck a deal on Monday to send Chris Paul and Abdel Nader to the Phoenix Suns, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The Thunder will receive Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick. The pick the Thunder will receive is reportedly top-12 protected in 2022, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Oklahoma City had been working with Paul to find a potential destination for the future Hall of Famer. Paul turned in an All-Star season with the Thunder, averaging 17.6 points, 6.7 assists and five rebounds in 70 games played last season.

The Suns proved to be aggressive in their pursuit of adding Paul after sending two cornerstone players in Oubre and Rubio while including young players in Jerome and Lecque. The organization is looking to take the next step in its development and believes Paul can be key to get there.

The trade of Paul comes just one day after the Thunder agreed to send Dennis Schroder to the Los Angeles Lakers for Danny Green and the 28th pick in the NBA draft. Oklahoma City is looking to rebuild and has amassed as many as 17 draft picks over the next six years.

The NBA draft is scheduled to begin Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN.

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