On this day in Boston Celtics history, the storied Massachusetts franchise would select four players of note in the 1964 NBA draft, held in New York City as it typically was in that era.
They did not however draft future Celtics champion forward Paul Silas, who was instead taken out of Creighton University by the (then) St. Louis (now, Atlanta) Hawks in the second round of the draft with the 10th overall pick (there were many more rounds with far fewer teams in that era of the draft). Silas would play for the Hawks in St. Louis and after they moved to Atlanta, Georgia as well as the Phoenix Suns before being dealt to Boston in the spring of 1972.
There, he would win two banners, be elected to multiple All-Defensive teams, and an All-Star Game — among many other honors.
Boston instead took center Joe Strawder with the 34th overall pick out of Bradley, but the big man never suited up for the Celtics.
He was instead sent to the Detroit Pistons for cash considerations, where he played three seasons.
The Celtics also drafted small forward Ron Bonham out of Cincinnati with the 16th overall pick.
Bonham would win two rings with Boston, in 1965 and 1966 — his sole two seasons with the team. He averaged 6.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game over that stretch.
Bill Russell (6) of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball as Mel Counts (31) of the Los Angeles Lakers attempts to break up the play in the second period of their National Basketball Association game at Boston Garden, Sunday, April 22, 1968, Boston, Mass. Boston won 107 to 101 to lead series 1-0. (AP Photo)
Boston selected big man Mel Counts with the seventh overall pick out of Oregon State, and Counts would also win two championships with the Celtics, again in 1965 and 1966.
He played just those two seasons with Boston, recording 6.8 points, 5.8 boards, and 0.6 assists per contest.
Finally, the Celtics drafted center John Thompson, who also played just two seasons with Boston, both banner years, again 1965 and 1966.
Thompson would go on to have a Hall of Fame coaching career immediately after retiring as a player in 1966, averaging 3.5 points, as many boards, and 0.3 assists per game as a Celtic.
18 Apr 1999: A close-up of Marlon Garnett #20 of the Boston Celtics as he shoots a free throw during the game against the Washington Wizards at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. The Celtics defeated the Wizards 101-98. Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport
It was on this date in 1999 that the team cut Garnett from the roster — though not the one you are likely thinking of. Guard Marlon Garnett — no relation to KG — was waived by the team after a 24-game stint in the 1998-99 NBA season.
The Santa Clara alum averaged 2.1 points per game over that stretch.
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 18: Damon Jones #13 of the Boston Celtics guards Mitch Richmond #2 of the Washington Wizards runs with the ball during the game at the MCI Center on April 18, 1999, in Washington, D.C. The Celtics defeated the Wizards 101-98. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
That same day, Boston signed guard Damon Jones to a rest-of-season deal after the Galveston native played well through a pair of 10-day deals.
The former Houston floor general played just 13 games total for the team, logging 5.8 points, 2.4 boards, and 2.2 assists per game as a Celtic.
Sadly, it is also the day in 1993 that we lost small forward Frank Kudelka.
An alum of Saint Mary’s College of California, Kudelka was signed by the (now defunct) Chicago Stags in 1950 and was picked up by the (also defunct) Washington Capitals in the Stags dispersal draft when that team folded in 1950, only to be picked up by the Celtics a year later when the Capitals went belly up.
Kudelka played just 27 games with Boston before the team sold his contract to the (ALSO defunct) Baltimore Bullets in 1951, recording 4.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game while with Boston.
Rest in peace.
Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett (5) is congratulated by teammate Boston Celtics forward Leon Powe (0) during Game 7 of an NBA first-round playoff basketball series in Boston, Sunday, May 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
It is also the anniversary of two victories since the season of Boston’s last championship in 2007-08, both coming against the Atlanta Hawks four years apart.
The first was a 99-65 Game 7 blowout in 2008 that saw Boston advance to face LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round.
Kevin Garnett scored 18 points and 11 rebounds, Paul Pierce 22 points, and 8 boards, and Leon Powe 12 points off the bench.
Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett (5) rubs the head of teammate Ray Allen during Game 3 of an NBA first-round playoff basketball series, Friday, May 4, 2012, in Boston. The Celtics defeated the Hawks 90-84, leading the series 2-1. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
In 2012, Boston beat the Hawks 90-84 in overtime behind a triple-double from point guard Rajon Rondo, who scored 17 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists.
“I felt good about all the shots I took,” Rondo said via the Associated Press. “My teammates told me to stay aggressive. Nights like tonight when I take a lot of shots, I finally found a way to get my team a win.”
Pierce added 21 points and 5 boards, KG 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks, and Ray Allen 13 points and 6 rebounds off of the bench.
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Story originally appeared on Celtics Wire
