Tag: Gary Phillips

On this day: Legendary Boston forward Larry Bird born

Larry Legend was born this day in a town not far from French Lick, Indiana in 1956.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, iconic Boston small forward Larry Joe Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana in 1956. Widely considered to be among the greatest to ever play the game, Bird would briefly attend Indiana University under iconic coach Bob Knight before eventually landing at Indiana State University in 1975.

That unusual quirk of a path would later make it possible for Boston Celtics managerial legend Red Auerbach to draft the Indiana native while he was still in college due to a technicality. He would play his full three seasons of eligibility with the Sycamores first, famously carrying them to the NCAA title game against lifelong rival and friend Magic Johnson’s Michigan State squad, who eventually won the game.

After being drafted by Boston with the sixth overall pick of the draft, Bird managed to extract a record five-year, $3.25 million contract for his services.

On this day: Shelden Williams, Gene Englund born; Philips, Butler, Barnett, Graham debut; Hazen passes

On this day in Celtics history, Shelden Williams and Gene Englund were born, a number of players debuted and John Hazen passed.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, former Boston big man Shelden Williams was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.

An alum of the Duke Blue Devils where he won NABC Defensive Player of the Year honors twice and made First Team All-American among other honors, Williams was taken fifth overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2006 NBA draft. He would play parts of two seasons before being dealt to the Sacramento Kings in February of 2009, and the Oklahoman would later be dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves as well.

He would sign with the Celtics as an unrestricted free agent in August of that same year.

Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. 21

Today’s installment focuses on the nine players who wore No. 21 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, 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 nine players who wore No. 21 over the years as of August 2023.

On this day: Legendary Boston forward Larry Bird born

Larry Legend was born this day in a town not far from French Lick, Indiana in 1956.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, iconic Boston small forward Larry Joe Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana in 1956. Widely considered to be among the greatest to ever play the game, Bird would briefly attend Indiana University under iconic coach Bob Knight before eventually landing at Indiana State University in 1975.

That unusual quirk of a path would later make it possible for Boston Celtics managerial legend Red Auerbach to draft the Indiana native while he was still in college due to a technicality. He would play his full three seasons of eligibility with the Sycamores first, famously carrying them to the NCAA title game against lifelong rival and friend Magic Johnson’s Michigan State squad, who eventually won the game.

After being drafted by Boston with the sixth overall pick of the draft, Bird managed to extract a record five-year, $3.25 million contract for his services.

On this day: Shelden Williams, Gene Englund born; Philips, Butler, Barnett, Graham debut; Hazen passes

On this day in Celtics history, Shelden Williams and Gene Englund were born, a number of players debuted and John Hazen passed.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, former Boston big man Shelden Williams was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.

A product of the Duke Blue Devils where he won NABC Defensive Player of the Year honors twice and made First Team All-American among other honors, Williams was taken fifth overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2006 NBA draft. He would play parts of two seasons before being dealt to the Sacramento Kings in February of 2009, and the Oklahoman would later be dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves as well.

He would sign with the Celtics as an unrestricted free agent in August of that same year.