On this day in Boston Celtics history, small forward Jae Crowder was born in Villa Rica, Georgia, in 1990 to former NBA player Corey Crowder and his wife, Helen Thompson. Crowder went on to play his college ball at Marquette University in the Big East Conference after stints at Howard University and South Georgia Tech.
From there, the Georgia native was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the 34th pick of the 2012 NBA draft. The former Golden Eagle came to Boston in a 2014 trade with the Mavericks along with Jameer Nelson and Brandan Wright in exchange for Dwight Powell and Rajon Rondo.
Crowder played three seasons with the Celtics, averaging 12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while with the team.
Jae Chowder — as he was sometimes called while in Boston — was a high-motor fan favorite while a Celtic and kept ties in the region by supporting local business despite moving on in his career.
The former Marquette standout was with Isaiah Thomas, Ante Žižić, and draft assets for Kyrie Irving in 2017.
Also on this date in 2006, the Celtics signed guard Allan Ray as a free agent out of Villanova after he went undrafted in the 2006 NBA draft.
Ray, a native of the Bronx, New York, was first sent to a D League (as the G League was called in that era) assignment with the Austin Toros but was soon called up to play with the parent club.
The former Wildcat played 47 games for the Celtics, averaging 6.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game.
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