Tag: willie naulls

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: Bradley debuts; Ford makes 1st 4-point play; Naulls passes

On this day, Avery Bradley debuted for the team, Chris Ford made the first 3-point play in team history, and Willie Naulls left us.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, guard Avery Bradley played his first game for the storied franchise in 2010. An alum of the University of Texas, the Tacoma, Washington native would be picked up by the Celtics with the 19th overall in the 2010 NBA draft.

The 6-foot-3 combo guard would play his inaugural minutes for the ball club in a 99-76 blowout of the Atlanta Hawks in the Celtics’ 14th game of the season, the Washingtonian scoring 2 points, a rebound, an assist, and a steal to go with 2 turnovers in his first game as a Celtic.

Bradley managed that over 6 minutes and 11 seconds of playing time, missing both his field-goal attempts but converting both of his two attempts from the free-throw line.

On this day: Former Boston forward Willie Naulls born; Jimmy Oliver signed

On this day, former Boston Celtic forward Willie Naulls was born, and ex-Boston shooting guard Jimmy Oliver signed with the team.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, champion small forward Willie Naulls was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1934. A graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, where he played for Hall of Fame coaching legend John Wooden, Naulls was selected with the ninth pick of the 1956 NBA draft by the (then) St. Louis (now, Atlanta) Hawks.

He played 19 games with that organization before being traded to the New York Knicks early in his rookie year. Naulls spent the bulk of his career with the Knicks, who named him the first Black team captain in league history.

It wasn’t the last trade of his career of course, or you would not be reading about him on this site.

Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. 12

Today’s installment focuses on the 34 players who wore No. 12 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 34 players who wore No. 12 over the years as of September 2023.

On this day: Celtics trade for Willie Naulls; Kevin Stacom born

On this day, the Boston Celtics dealt for Willie Naulls, and ex-Celtic shooting guard Kevin Stacom was born.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the storied franchise bought the rights to forward Willie Naulls’ contract from the (then) San Francisco (now Golden State) Warriors in 1963. It was the final stop in a long NBA playing career for the Dallas, Texas, native, which began after playing for the University of California Los Angeles Bruins at the NCAA level.

Naulls, who moved to California as a young child with his family to escape segregation in the southern United Statesm was shocked after being drafted by the (then) St. Louis (now, Atlanta) Hawks in the 1956 NBA draft at the local treatment of Blacks.

He later played for the New York Knicks and the Warriors before joining the Celtics, where he won three titles between 1964 and 1966.

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: Bradley debuts; Ford makes 1st 4-point play; Naulls passes

On this day, Avery Bradley debuted for the team, Chris Ford made the first 3-point play in team history, and Willie Naulls left us.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, guard Avery Bradley played his first game for the storied franchise in 2010. An alum of the University of Texas, the Tacoma, Washington native would be picked up by the Celtics with the 19th overall in the 2010 NBA draft.

The 6-foot-3 combo guard would play his inaugural minutes for the team in a 99-76 blowout of the Atlanta Hawks in the Celtics’ 14th game of the season, the Washingtonian scoring 2 points, a rebound, an assist, and a steal to go with 2 turnovers in his first game as a Celtic.

Bradley managed that over 6 minutes and 11 seconds of playing time, missing both his field-goal attempts but converting both of his two attempts from the free-throw line.

On this day: Celtics trade for Willie Naulls; Kevin Stacom born

On this day, the Boston Celtics dealt for Willie Naulls, and ex-Celtic shooting guard Kevin Stacom was born.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the storied franchise bought the rights to forward Willie Naulls’ contract from the (then) San Francisco (now Golden State) Warriors in 1963. It was the final stop in a long NBA career for the Dallas, Texas, native, which began after playing for the University of California Los Angeles Bruins.

Naulls, who moved to California as a young child with his family to escape segregation in the southern U.S., was shocked after being drafted by the (then) St. Louis (now, Atlanta) Hawks in the 1956 NBA draft.

He later played for the New York Knicks and the Warriors before joining the Celtics, where he won three titles between 1964 and 1966.

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.

On this day: Former Boston forward Willie Naulls born; Jimmy Oliver signed

On this day, former Boston Celtic forward Willie Naulls was born, and ex-Boston shooting guard Jimmy Oliver signed with the team.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, champion small forward Willie Naulls was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1934. A graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, where he played for Hall of Fame coaching legend John Wooden, Naulls was selected with the ninth pick of the 1956 NBA draft by the (then) St. Louis (now, Atlanta) Hawks.

He played 19 games with that organization before being traded to the New York Knicks early in his rookie year. He spent the bulk of his career with the Knicks, who named him the first Black team captain in league history.

It wasn’t the last trade of his career of course, or you would not be reading about him on this site.