On this day in Boston Celtics history, point and shooting guard Avery Antonio Bradley Jr. was born in Tacoma, Washington in 1990. Bradley played basketball at the NCAA level with the University of Texas Longhorns before he was picked up by the Celtics with the 19th overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft, unfortunately starting his NBA career waylaid by ankle surgery.
The Texas alum quickly became a key part of the rotation for Boston once he was able to get back on the floor, however, joining a team with designs on contending for an NBA title, and holding his own while he did it.
Over the course of seven seasons with Boston, the Tacoma native racked up two All-Defensive team honors.
He would be dealt to the Detroit Pistons at the end of the 2016-17 NBA season to make room for the signing of veteran forward Gordon Hayward’s contract with the Celtics.
Bradley averaged 12.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game with Boston.
It is also the date of former Boston combo guard Delonte West’s debut with the team.
An alumnus of St. Joseph’s University, West had been selected by Boston with the 24th overall pick of the 2004 NBA draft.
The Washington, District of Columbia native played his inaugural game for the team in a 98-96 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers that same year.
West scored 7 points, 1 rebound, and as many assists in just under nine and a half minutes of floor time.
Finally, it was also on this date that fellow D.C. native Sherman Douglas was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Alton Lister and Todd Day in 1995.
The former Syracuse point guard had played parts of 5 seasons with the Celtics, averaging 11.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game with the team over that stretch.
“I haven’t paid much attention (to Milwaukee),” said Douglas at the time of the trade via the A.P. “But I know they have two great players. I like their chances. I think they’ll be right there.”
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