On this day in Boston Celtics history, former Boston big man Al Horford was born in 1986 in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. A product of the University of Florida, he helped lead that school to back-to-back NCAA championships (one of the only schools in history to do so) with center Joakim Noah before being drafted third overall in the 2007 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks.
After nine seasons with that franchise, he would sign with the Celtics in free agency in the summer of 2016, making the All-Star team twice with the team (in 2016 and 2018) before leaving in free agency in 2019, only to return to the team via trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2021.
Happy birthday, Al!
Happy birthday in heaven Cecil Hankins. #Celtics pic.twitter.com/wsHj3GjM6r
— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) January 6, 2021
Today is also the anniversary of guard Cecil Hankins leaving us in 2002. A product of Oklahoma State, Hankins joined the (now defunct) St. Louis Bombers in the debut season of the Basketball Association of America (BAA – a predecessor league of the NBA) in 1947.
At the end of that season, the Alabama native was dealt to Boston for Wyndol Gray, appearing in 25 contests for the Celtics over which he logged 2.8 points per game.
Rest in peace.
Happy birthday Ramon Rivas! Out of Temple you played in 28 games and scored 40 points in your entire career: 1 year, 1989, Boston Celtics. But hey, for Puerto Rico, you put Alonzo Mourning on a poster in the Bronze Medal game. That’s something, ain’t it? Sure it is. #Celtics pic.twitter.com/wEvW1m6idZ
— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) June 3, 2020
It is also the birthday of former Celtic big man Ramón Rivas, born in Carolina, Puerto Rico in 1966.
He would play his NCAA ball at Temple University before being signed by Boston as an undrafted player in 1988 for the following season, his sole in the NBA.
He would average 1.4 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.1 assist per game while with the team.
It is also the anniversary of a 93-91 overtime win over the Miami Heat in the 2012 Eastern Conference finals as a last-second shot by Heat guard Dwyane Wade failed to fall.
“Red wasn’t going to let that go in. Not in the Boston Garden,” related head coach Doc Rivers via ESPN.
Point guard Rajon Rondo was particularly clutch for the Celtics, logging 15 points and as many rebounds, including the team’s final three points in overtime to even the series at two games each.
Forward Paul Pierce led the team with 23 points and 6 rebounds, and big man Kevin Garnett added 17 points and 14 rebounds.
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