Tag: Andrew DeClercq

On this day: Celtics McCarty, DeClercq born; Saunders traded; Kite cut

On this day in Boston Celtics history, Walter McCarty and Andrew DeClercq were born, Fred Saunders was traded and Greg Kite was waived.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, former Celtics forward Walter Lee McCarty was born in Evansville, Indiana back in 1974. McCarty played collegiately for the University of Kentucky under future Celtics coach and President of Basketball Operations Rick Pitino before being picked up with the 19th overall selection of the 1996 NBA draft by the New York Knicks.

He played 35 games there before being traded to the Celtics with Scott Brooks, Dontae’ Jones, and John Thomas in October 1997 for Chris Mills and draft assets, where he played for a total of eight seasons before being traded to the Phoenix Suns for a 2007 second-round draft pick.

The Kentucky alum would average 5.7 points and 2.8 boards per game in his time in green and white as a player, and would later return to serve as an assistant coach with Boston from 2013 to 2018.

Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. 45

This is every player in Boston’s history who wore the Celtics’ No. 45 jersey for at least one game as of Aug. 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 dozen players who wore No. 45 over the years as of Aug. 2023.

On this day: Bowen, Declercq sign; Erden, Williams born

On this day, former Boston Celtics Bruce Bowen and Andrew DeClercq signed deals with the franchise, and big men Semih Erden and Willie Williams were born.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, small forward Bruce Bowen signed as a free agent with the team. A native of Merced, California, the contract would be Bowen’s first real shot in the NBA (he had turned a pair of 10-day deals with the Miami Heat into a rest-of-season contract the season before but only played in a single game) after going undrafted out of Cal State Fullerton in the 1993 NBA draft.

After stints overseas and in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA – a predecessor to the G League), Bowen would latch on to the Heat and then Celtics, for whom he would play two seasons.

He would average 4.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while showing hints of becoming the fearsome defender he would later be known for.

On this day: Celtics McCarty, DeClercq born; Saunders traded; Kite cut

On this day in Boston Celtics history, Walter McCarty and Andrew DeClercq were born, Fred Saunders was traded and Greg Kite was waived.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, former Celtics forward Walter Lee McCarty was born in Evansville, Indiana back in 1974. McCarty played collegiately for the University of Kentucky under future Celtics coach and President of Basketball Operations Rick Pitino before being picked up with the 19th overall selection of the 1996 NBA draft by the New York Knicks.

He played 35 games there before being traded to the Celtics with Scott Brooks, Dontae’ Jones, and John Thomas in October of 1997 for Chris Mills and draft assets, where he played for a total of eight seasons before being traded to the Phoenix Suns for a 2007 second-round draft pick.

The Kentucky alum would average 5.7 points and 2.8 boards per game in his time in green and white as a player, and would later return to serve as an assistant coach with Boston from 2013 to 2018.

Colin Castleton climbing Florida’s all-time shot blocker list

Take a look at where Colin Castleton ranks among the all-time shot blockers at Florida.

Florida basketball has a formidable force down low on defense in the form of center [autotag]Colin Castleton[/autotag], a fifth-year senior who transferred to the Gators from the Michigan Wolverines ahead of the 2020-21 campaign.

While the 6-foot-11-inch, 250-pound big guy has made his presence felt in the paint during his three years in Gainesville, he has stepped things up in his final campaign. Notching 54 and 62 blocks in his first two years wearing the Orange and Blue, respectively, he already has 38 blocks in just 15 games played (vs. 24 and 28 games, respectively).

Castleton came into the season right at No. 10 on the list with 116 blocks but has quickly worked his way up. While there is a good chance he could finish third or fourth all-time if he remains healthy and consistent it is practically impossible for him to catch up to No. 1.

Take a look below at Florida’s top 10 shot blockers over the course of history and where Castleton currently ranks among them as the 2022-23 season rolls along.

On this day: Bowen, Declercq sign; Erden, Williams born

On this day, former Boston Celtics Bruce Bowen and Andrew DeClercq signed deals with the franchise, and big men Semih Erden and Willie Williams were born.

On this day in 1997, former Boston Celtics small forward Bruce Bowen signed as a free agent with the team.

A native of Merced, California, the contract would be Bowen’s first real shot in the NBA (he had turned a pair of 10-day deals with the Miami Heat into a rest-of-season contract the season before but only played in a single game) after going undrafted out of Cal State Fullerton in the 1993 NBA Draft.

After stints overseas and in the Continental Basketball Association (a predecessor to the G League), Bowen would latch on to the Heat and then Celtics, for whom he would play two seasons.

He would average 4.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while showing hints of becoming the fearsome defender he would later be known for.

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