Tag: bob duffy

Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. 17

Today’s installment focuses on the 11 players who wore No. 17 over the years as of September 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, their unretired jersey numbers pack 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 11 players who wore No. 17 over the years as of September 2023.

On this day: Marcus Smart, Semih Erden signed; Bob Duffy born

On this day, veteran guard Marcus Smart and former Celtic center Semih Erden signed contracts with Boston, and former Celtic forward Bob Duffy was born.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, veteran guard Marcus Smart signed his $14.8 million rookie-scale contract with the team. Drafted by the Celtics out of Oklahoma State with the sixth overall pick of the 2014 NBA draft, the Flower Mound, Texas native was named to the All-Rookie Second Team in his inaugural season.

Smart was quick to craft a reputation as one of the NBA’s most dogged defenders at any position, able to defend almost any player in the league for at least short stints. The 6-foot-3 point guard would later make All-Defensive First Teams in 2019, 2020, and 2022.

At the end of the Celtics’ 2021-22 campaign, the defining honor of his career was awarded to Smart after he became the first guard since Gary Payton to win Defensive Player of the Year.