That day at Boston Celtics Historical past, former Boston huge man Shelden Williams was born in Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma in 1983.
A former member of the Duke Blue Devils, the place he twice gained NABC Defensive Participant of the Yr and was a first-team All-American, amongst different honors, Williams was taken fifth total by the Hawks of Atlanta within the 2006 NBA draft. He would play components of two seasons earlier than being dealt to the Sacramento Kings in February 2009, and the Oklahoman would additionally later be dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He would signal with the Celtics as an unrestricted free agent in August of that yr. Williams solely performed 54 video games for Boston through the 2009–10 season, earlier than turning into a free agent for the Denver Nuggets after his contract expired. He averaged 3.7 factors and a couple of.7 rebounds with the staff.
He shares this birthday together with his compatriot Gene Englund, former Celtic middle, born on at the present time in 1917 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. A part of Boston’s staff within the Basketball Affiliation of America (BAA – a precursor league to the NBA), Englund performed his school ball with Wisconsin, which he led to an NCAA title in 1941.
Englund spent most of his skilled profession competing within the Nationwide Basketball League (NBL – to not be confused with the trendy Australian league of the identical title).
After stints with the Oshkosh All-Stars and Brooklyn Indians in that league, the Wisconsinite joined Boston as a free agent and performed 24 video games underneath the staff’s first coach, Alvin “Doggie ” Julian earlier than being traded to the (then) Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now, Atlanta Hawks) mid-season. He would rating 8.2 factors per sport, with rebounds and blocks but to be recorded within the BAA.
It’s also the date that Celtics Gary Phillips and Al Butler debuted with the staff in a 137-102 victory over the Detroit Pistons in 1961. Butler had the higher sport of the 2 regardless of enjoying 6 minutes lower than Phillips 13 minutes, placing up 6 factors in opposition to Phillips 3 factors and 1 help.
Precisely 5 years later, in 1966, Oregon product Jim Barnett made his debut with the Celtics, in a 111-91 victory over the (then) Baltimore Bullets (now Washington Wizards). Barnett had a powerful opening efficiency in 13 minutes of play, scoring 6 factors, 3 rebounds and an help.
In one thing approaching déjà vu, level guard Mal Graham made his debut for Boston precisely a yr to the day of Jim Barnett’s first sport with the staff, one other blowout of the (then) Bullets, this time on the top of 125-109. And in one thing not like déjà vu, Graham went scoreless in his first sport with Boston.
Lastly, it is also the date guard John Hazen left us in 1988. A product of Indiana State College, Hazen joined the Celtics as a free agent after going undrafted in 1948.
He’ll solely play 6 video games with Boston, his complete profession within the BAA (the Basketball Affiliation of America, a predecessor league to the NBA). The Chicago native averaged 3 factors per sport with the Celtics.
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This text was initially printed on Celtics Wire: Celtics Historical past: Williams, born in Englund; Debuts of Butler, Barnett and Graham
