The Boston Celtics have had players suiting up in a total of 68 different jersey numbers (and have three others not part of any numerical series) since their founding at the dawn of the Basketball Association of America (BAA — the league that would become today’s NBA), worn by well over 500 players in the course of Celtics history. To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Celtics Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team.
With 25 of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Celtics to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover. And for today’s article, we will continue with the second of six players to don jersey No. 0, forward Walter “Ice” Lee McCarty.
McCarty played at the NCAA level at the University of Kentucky, and was picked up by the New York Knicks with the 19th overall pick of the 1996 NBA draft. The Evansville, Indiana, native played just 35 games with the Knicks in his rookie season before he would be dealt to Boston with Scott Brooks (yes, THAT Scott Brooks), Dontae’ Jones and John Thomas for Chris Mills and draft assets.
McCarty suited up in No. 0 for the Celtics for parts of eight seasons before he would be traded again (this time to the Phoenix Suns for draft assets), averaging 5.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game with Boston.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics jersey history No. 0 – Walter McCarty (1997-2005)
