WALTHAM, MA - JULY 7: Celtics coach Rick Pitino welcomes free agent Travis Knight to the Celtics team at Brandeis University. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

WALTHAM, MA – JULY 7: Celtics coach Rick Pitino welcomes free agent Travis Knight to the Celtics team at Brandeis University. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

That day at Boston Celtics History, big man Travis Knight was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1974. Knight played college football with the University of Connecticut Huskies and was drafted by the The Chicago Bulls with the 29th pick in the 1996 NBA draft. For some reason, the Bulls were hesitant to sign Knight to the three-year contract required for a first-round pick, and Chicago waived his rights less than a month later. He was drafted by the Bulls The Los Angeles Lakersand he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in his inaugural season in the league.

A free agent after his rookie season, Knight signed a seven-year, $22 million contract with the Celtics under head coach and team president Rick Pitino. uttered the famous phrase “I definitely have mixed feelings; I should be thrilled right now, but I’m not. I feel so much loyalty (to the Lakers),” which hasn’t done Knight any favors with his new team’s fans.

The knight would get what he wanted. It was redistributed to Los Angeles for Tony Battie in 1999, and he won a title in 2000. The former Husky averaged 6.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while with the Celtics.

It was also on this date in 1937 that former Celtics forward Gene Guarilia was born in Old Forge, Pennsylvania.

Guarilia was selected 14th overall in the 1959 NBA draft out of George Washington and played four seasons for Boston, winning a title in each of those seasons between 1960 and 1963. He averaged 3.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game during that span.

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This article was originally published on Celtics Wire: Celtics History: Birth of Former Cs Travis Knight and Gene Guarilia

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