Tag: Eric Williams

On this day: Celtics Scott born; Battie traded; Gamble debuted

On this day, former Celtic champion Charlie Scott was born, Tony Battie was traded, and Kevin Gamble debuted for the team.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, champion point and shooting guard Charles Thomas Scott was born in New York City in 1948. Better known as “Charlie” to many Celtics fans, the New Yorker broke the color barrier at the University of North Carolina as that famed school’s first Black scholarship athlete. He was drafted by Boston with the 106th pick of the 1970 NBA draft (there were many more rounds in that era).

Before he finished his NCAA playing days, he won a gold medal in the 1968 Olympics held in Mexico City, Mexico, along with future teammate Jo Jo White.

Though drafted by Boston, Scott instead signed with the American Basketball Association’s (ABA — a competing league that later merged with the NBA) Virginia Squires for most of two seasons.

On this day: Boston Celtics Tony Allen, Eric Williams, Al Jefferson debut

On this day, former Boston Celtics Tony Allen, Eric Williams, and Al Jefferson made their debuts for the team.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, champion shooting guard Tony Allen played his first game for the team in a 98-95 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in 2004.

The former Oklahoma State Cowboy — taken by the Celtics with the 25th pick of that summer’s draft — didn’t have the most spectacular outing in his first appearance in green and white. However, the performance wasn’t indicative of his potential, thankfully. Allen put up 2 points on a single shot attempt and grabbed as many rebounds in his inaugural performance against the 76ers.

He was on the floor for just inside six minutes, with a single turnover and one personal foul.

Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. 55

This is every player in Boston’s history who wore the Celtics’ No. 55 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 13 players who wore No. 55 over the years as of Aug. 2023.

On this day: Pierce signs with Celts to retire; Eric Williams born

On this day in 2017, Celtics legend Paul Pierce signed with Boston to retire a Celtic, and former wing Eric Williams was born.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, iconic Hall of Fame small forward Paul Pierce signed a deal to rejoin the team long enough to retire a Celtic in 2017, a franchise he had played with for 15 seasons before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013.

After his time with the Nets, Pierce would play stints with the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers before his symbolic return to the franchise that drafted him with the 10th overall pick of the 1998 NBA draft out of Kansas. Pierce would win a title with Boston in 2008 along with Finals MVP, make 10 All-Star teams, four All-NBA teams, and All-Rookie first team in 1999 among several other honors.

He averaged 21.8 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while with the team.

Who has the highest steal average in Boston Celtics playoff history?

Can you guess who that guard might be, as well as the others of the top ten pickpockets in the history of Boston’s playoff action?

When talking about nabbing steals in the NBA Playoffs, fans of the Boston Celtics might be surprised to learn that despite his fame as one of the ball clubs’ greatest defenders and most dangerous covers for opposing teams, the man we have all come to love and trust, veteran Celtics floor general Marcus Smart, does not hold the record for the most playoff assists per game for the storied ball club.

In fact, that record belongs to another Boston point guard. Can you guess who that guard might be, as well as the others of the top ten pickpockets in the history of Boston’s playoff action?

Let’s take a look at the record books to find out.

On this day: Celtics Scott born; Battie traded; Gamble debuted

On this day, former Celtic champion Charlie Scott was born, Tony Battie was traded, and Kevin Gamble debuted for the team.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, champion point and shooting guard Charles Thomas Scott was born in New York City in 1948.

Better known as “Charlie” to many Celtics fans, the New Yorker broke the color barrier at the University of North Carolina as that famed school’s first Black scholarship athlete. He was drafted by Boston with the 106th pick of the 1970 NBA draft (there were many more rounds in that era).

Before he finished his NCAA playing days, he won a gold medal in the 1968 Olympics held in Mexico City, Mexico, along with future teammate Jo Jo White.

Though drafted by Boston, Scott instead signed with the American Basketball Association’s (ABA — a competing league that later merged with the NBA) Virginia Squires for most of two seasons.

On this day: Boston Celtics Tony Allen, Eric Williams, Al Jefferson debut

On this day, former Boston Celtics Tony Allen, Eric Williams, and Al Jefferson made their debuts for the team.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, champion shooting guard Tony Allen played his first game for the team in a 98-95 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in 2004.

The former Oklahoma State Cowboy — taken by the Celtics with the 25th pick of that summer’s draft — didn’t have the most spectacular outing in his first appearance in green and white. However, the performance wasn’t indicative of his potential, thankfully. Allen put up 2 points on a single shot attempt and grabbed as many rebounds in his inaugural performance against the 76ers.

He was on the floor for just inside six minutes, with a single turnover and one personal foul.

Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. 55

This is every player in Boston’s history who wore the Celtics’ No. 55 jersey for at least one game as of October 2022.

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 13 players who wore No. 55 over the years as of October 2022.

On this day: Pierce signs with Celts to retire; Eric Williams born

On this day in 2017, Celtics legend Paul Pierce signed with Boston to retire a Celtic, and former wing Eric Williams was born.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, iconic Hall of Fame small forward Paul Pierce signed a deal to rejoin the team long enough to retire a Celtic in 2017, a franchise he had played with for 15 seasons before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013.

After his time with the Nets, Pierce would play stints with the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers before his symbolic return to the franchise that drafted him with the 10th overall pick of the 1998 NBA draft out of Kansas. Pierce would win a title with Boston in 2008 along with Finals MVP, make 10 All-Star teams, four All-NBA teams, and All-Rookie first team in 1999 among several other honors.

He averaged 21.8 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while with the team.

Oregon transfer Eric Williams commits to Steve Lavin and San Diego Toreros

Former Oregon Ducks guard Eric Williams committed to San Diego, joining Jaiden Delaire from the Pac-12 on Steve Lavin’s squad.

Former Oregon Ducks guard Eric Williams has committed to the University of San Diego for his final year of collegiate eligibility, according to a tweet from Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Williams initially entered the transfer portal back in March. He made it clear he was exploring professional opportunities as well as other schools – even indicating he was not planning to return to Oregon regardless.

It was recently revealed he went on a visit to San Diego and he even had a visit scheduled at USC as well.

Williams becomes the second high profile Pac-12 player to join new head coach Steve Lavin at San Diego, following in the footsteps of Jaiden Delaire from Stanford.

Williams averaged 8.4 points in a mostly reserve role for Oregon last year, his second with the Ducks after beginning his career in the A-10 with Duquesne.

Now he’ll head to the WCC, a tough conference to make the NCAA Tournament out of thanks to Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s, but a program where he should get plenty of opportunities to prove himself alongside Delaire in Lavin’s first year back coaching at the D-1 level.

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