On this day in Boston Celtics history, the storied franchise would sign small forward David Thirdkill as an unrestricted free agent in 1985. The Sheriff — as Thirdkill was sometimes called as a nickname — was a native of St. Louis, Missouri who played his college ball in Peoria, Illinois at Bradley University, where he would win Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference with the Braves.
He would be drafted with the 15th overall pick of the 1982 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns, for whom Thirdkill would play for just one season before being dealt away to play for the Detroit Pistons.
Buy Celtics TicketsHe would later have stints with the Milwaukee Bucks and San Antonio Spurs before joining the Celtics.
Happy birthday David Thirdkill! Boston Celtics. World Champion.
— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) April 12, 2022
”Being with the Celtics, the tradition, the players, the championship caliber of the ball club, is great,” Thirdkill said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune’s Sam Smith soon after signing with Boston.
”Who in America wouldn`t want to play for the Celtics? They all work hard.”
12th man on #86Celtics – #45 David Thirdkill. Joined #Celtics in Dec 1985 after Sly Williams was released @CSNNE pic.twitter.com/7iGb8m2mbF
— Jim Aberdale (@JimAberdale) May 5, 2016
The St. Louis native would win a title with Boston in 1986 in a reserve role and would go on to have a successful overseas career after his time with the Celtics.
Over two seasons and 66 games with Boston, Thirdkill averaged 2.8 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.
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