tracy jackson – Syndication Server

On this day: Stevens, Olynyk, Pressey, Johnson, Langford debut; Rondo 24 asts

On this day, Boston coach Brad Stevens and Celtics Joe Johnson, Kelly Olynyk, Phil Pressey, Jared Sullinger, and Romeo Langford debuted for the team, while Rajon Rondo dropped 24 assists.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, former Celtics head coach and current Boston President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens coached his first regular-season game in that role after being hired away from the Butler Bulldogs earlier in the year to head to the Celtics to accept his first NBA job.

The tilt was unfortunately a loss to the Toronto Raptors to start the Stevens era with the franchise, though at least a close one to the tune of 93-87. Stevens’ best performing players were forward Jeff Green with 25 points and 5 rebounds, and big man Brandon Bass with 17 points.

The game wasn’t just Stevens’ first with the Celtics.

Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. 11

Today’s installment focuses on the 29 players who wore No. 11 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 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 29 players who wore No. 11 over the years as of September 2023.

Ainge started his athletic journey as a multi-sport athlete in high school, excelling in basketball, football, and baseball. https://t.co/4PnH3CVgoh

— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 3, 2023

On this day: Robert Parish, pick used for Kevin McHale traded for; Bird, Ainge drafted

Today saw the deal for Robert Parish and Kevin McHale and the drafts that brought Larry Bird and Danny Ainge to the Boston Celtics go down.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, President of Basketball Operations Red Auerbach pulled off one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history in 1980. Auerbach dealt a pair of first-round picks used to select big man Joe Barry Carroll and center Rickey Brown to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for big man Robert Parish and the draft pick used to select Kevin McHale.

In one fell swoop, Boston’s head honcho scooped up two-thirds of one of the greatest frontcourts ever assembled. Forward Larry Bird, who had already been drafted, completed the trio that win titles together in 1981, 1984, and 1986.

It is also the anniversary of the 1978 NBA draft, in which the Celtics took three players of note.

On this day: Bob Cousy inducted into Hall of Fame; Tracy Jackson born

The Cooz was granted basketball’s highest honor on this date in 1971.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, renowned Celtics point guard Bob Cousy was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1971 along with longtime rival Bob Pettit of the then-St- Louis Hawks.

Initially drafted out of Holy Cross by the Tri-City Blackhawks in 1950, Cousy refused to play for the team and ended up being picked up by the Celtics instead. The New Yorker played 13 seasons, nearly his entire career, for Boston. Cousy played seven games for the Cincinnati Royals in the 1969-70 season during a brief comeback bid. During his Celtics tenure, he won eight titles and was elected to 13 NBA All-Star games.

Among many, many other honors.