Tag: steve downing

On this day: Ford trade; Minor signs; Hankinson, Stacom, McDonald, Maxwell, Downing debuts; Mangurian passes

On this day in Celtics history, Boston traded for Chris Ford, former owner Harry Mangurian passed and several players debuted for the team.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, shooting guard Chris Ford was traded to the team from the Detroit Pistons with draft assets for Earl Tatum in 1978. Ford, a product of the Villanova Wildcats, was taken by the Pistons with the 17th overall pick of the 1972 NBA draft after spending four seasons with his college alma mater.

He played for Detroit for seven seasons before he was dealt to the Celtics, developing a long-range shot he would eventually use to sink the first 3-pointer in NBA history, even if it wasn’t used anywhere near as often as it is today.

In a neat wrinkle of history, the 3 came in the same game Boston icon Larry Bird made his NBA debut in 1979.

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.

On this day: Ex-Boston big man Dave Cowens traded; center Steve Downing born

On this day, the Boston Celtics traded away Hall of Fame center Dave Cowens, and former Boston big man Steve Downing was born.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the storied franchise traded star center Dave Cowens to the Milwaukee Bucks for point guard Quinn Buckner in 1982. Cowens had retired from the ball club as a player in 1980, citing his declining physical health and a need for new blood in Boston’s frontcourt, but he decided to play once again two seasons later.

The Newport, Kentucky, native, who had been drafted out of Florida State University by the Celtics with the fourth overall pick of the 1970 NBA draft, had only played for the Celtics franchise, which still held his rights.

The former Seminole convinced Boston to deal him to the Bucks — coached by one-time teammate Don Nelson — in exchange for Buckner to satisfy their contractual obligations.

Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. 32

Today’s installment focuses on the four players who wore No. 32 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 four players who wore No. 32 over the years as of August 2023.

On this day: Bob Cousy’s last game as a Celtic; Frank Ramsey drafted

On this day, Boston point guard legend Bob Cousy played his last game for the Celtics, and Hall of Fame wing Frank Ramsey was drafted.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, Celtics point guard luminary Bob Cousy finished his career with the Celtics with a bang in 1963, defeating the longtime Boston rival Los Angeles Lakers 112-109 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals four that year, securing Boston’s fifth consecutive NBA championship.

Cousy scored 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists in his final game as a Celtic, shooting 8-of-16 from the floor. The Holy Cross alum played for 13 seasons with Boston, virtually his entire career apart from seven games as player-coach for the Cincinnati Royals in the 1969-70 season.

He would win six championships with the Celtics, and be elected to 13 NBA All-Star Games among many other honors over that stretch. Cousy averaged 18.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 7.6 assists in his time with Boston.