Tag: Tom Sanders

Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. 16

Today’s installment focuses on the seven players who wore No. 16 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 seven players who wore No. 16 over the years as of September 2023.

Which Boston Celtics have played in the most Game 7s in the postseason?

The storied ball club has a number of their former players on any list of NBA greats who have played in the most Game 7s.

When talking about playing in Game 7s in the history of the  NBA playoffs, fans of the Boston Celtics will not be too surprised to learn the storied club has a number of their former players on any list of NBA greats who have played in the most Game 7s over the course of their careers.

But when you take into account the dominance of the Celtics from the 1950s to the precipice of the 1970s with long stretches of contention in the mid-seventies, the eighties and late aughts, it makes sense that such lists are littered with former Boston players.

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

Who has played the most playoff games in Boston Celtics history?

Can you guess who that might be, as well as the others of the top ten players in terms of postseason play in the history of Boston’s playoff action?

When talking about getting onto the court in the NBA playoffs, fans of the Boston Celtics might be surprised to learn that despite his fame as one of the winningest competitors in any sport, Hall of Fame Boston big man Bill Russell does not hold the record for the most playoff games played over the course of his storied career with the ball club.

In fact, that record belongs to another Boston player who took the court alongside Russell for several seasons. Can you guess who that might be, as well as the others of the top ten players in terms of postseason play in the history of Boston’s playoff action?

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

On this day: Celtics fire Tommy Heinsohn as coach, hire Tom Sanders

On this day in 1978, the Boston Celtics fired iconic head coach Tommy Heinsohn and hired Celtic champ Tom Sanders to replace him in that role.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the storied franchise fired then-head coach and former champion forward Tommy Heinsohn.

Heinsohn had begun coaching the team after a stint as a broadcaster calling games for local television station WKBG, which he had been doing for 3 seasons after retiring as one of the most decorated players in all of NBA history in 1965, winning 8 titles and a host of other honors. The Holy Cross product was similarly successful as a head coach for the Celtics early on, winning the league’s Coach of the Year honors in 1973 and a pair of titles in 1974 and 1976.

He would also serve as the head coach of the East in All-Star games between 1972 and 1974, and again in 1976.

On this day: Boston Celtics field NBA’s first All-Black starting five

On this day in 1964, the Boston Celtics fielded the first all-Black starting 5 in league history when Willie Naulls replaced Tommy Heinsohn in the lineup.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the storied franchise made history by starting the first all-Black starting five in NBA history back in 1964. The Celtics were on the road to play a regular season game with the (then) St. Louis (now, Atlanta) Hawks when Hall of Fame power forward Tommy Heinsohn ended up a scratch due to an injury he sustained previously.

In that era, there was a so-called “gentlemen’s agreement” that acted as an unspoken agreement to always have at least one white player on the court at all times, supposedly in the interest of racial harmony.

But, legendary team manager and head coach Red Auerbach decided to play recently-acquired Willie Naulls in his place, breaking that tacit, racist agreement.

On this day: Jo Jo White debuts; Tom Sanders fired, Dave Cowens hired as coach; David Wesley born

On this day, Boston legend Jo Jo White debuted for the team, Tom Sanders was fired as head coach, Dave Cowens was hired to replace him, and David Wesley was born.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, point guard David Wesley was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1970. An alumnus of Baylor University, the Texan guard found himself passed over in the 1992 NBA draft due to concerns about his height at 6-foot-1 and ability to transition from the 1 to the 2 at the NBA level.

After a stint with the Wichita Falls Texans in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA — that era’s equivalent of the NBA G League), he would sign with the (then) New Jersey (now, Brooklyn) Nets before joining the Celtics the next season as a free agent.

Wesley’s scoring doubled or nearly so each of his first three seasons in the NBA, going from 3.1 to 7.4 to 12.3 points per game.

On this day: Sanders, Carroll born; Driggers, Searcy debuted; Overton, Sykes sign; Nostrand passes

On this day in Celtics history, former Boston power forward Satch Sanders and interim coach Jim Carroll were born, while guard Nate Driggers debuted.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, champion power forward Thomas Ernest “Satch” Sanders was born in New York City, New York. Satch — as he was more commonly called — played his college ball at New York University, and would be drafted by the Celtics eighth overall in the 1960 NBA draft.

Sanders joined Boston just as it was establishing its dynasty of titles in the 1960s, winning eight with the team in that decade — a feat only surpassed by teammates Bill Russell and Sam Jones and equaled by Tommy Heinsohn, John Havlicek, and K.C. Jones, all Celtic teammates from that era as well.

The New Yorker would retire as a player to get into coaching (including Boston in 1978) in 1973, averaging 9.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game with the Celtics.

Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. 16

This is every player in Boston’s history who wore the Celtics’ No. 16 jersey for at least one game as of September 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, 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 seven players who wore No. 16 over the years as of September 2022.

Every Boston Celtics player who never lost an NBA Finals series

Let’s take a look at all the Boston players who never lost a Finals series with more than two appearances.

Which Boston Celtics never lost a game in the NBA Finals?

While the Celtics have a large number of players who can say they never have, it might surprise you that the greatest winner of all time is not on that list. The Celtics’ loss to the Atlanta Hawks in the 1958 NBA Finals is to blame for 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell missing the list.

But many of his teammates appear on the list as do a few other former Celtics from later years when Boston was a regular visitor to the finals.

Let’s take a look at all the Boston players who never lost a finals series with more than two appearances.

Celtics legend Satch Sanders sees some Bill Russell in Robert Williams III

But he also took time to explain why Timelord’s athleticism alone is not enough to equal Russell’s greatness.

Boston Celtics big man Robert Williams III has been compared to another Celtics center from northern Louisiana more than once in his NBA career due to the explosive athleticism and nearly impeccable timing that allows Timelord to terrorize opposing offenses with his shot-blocking abilities.

But those who played with said center — Hall of Fame Boston big man Bill Russell — especially know just how big of a compliment such a comparison was given how driven Russell was to win, his indomitable will a key part of helping hang a record 11 banners as a player or player-coach with the Celtics.

One of his teammates, Tom “Satch” Sanders, recently made such a comparison himself while also pondering whether Williams has the gravel in his gut that might also push the Texas A&M product to a similar stratosphere.