On this day: Boston’s first-ever playoff win; Don Barksdale born; 1959 draft

On this day in Boston Celtics history, former Boston Celtic forward Don Barksdale was born in Oakland California in 1923. He would play his college ball at UCLA, becoming the first black All-American in NCAA history. Soon after, he would become the first African-American to win a Gold medal in the 1948 Olympic Games before moving on to the NBA.

After some short stints with local clubs, Barksdale would be signed by the Baltimore Bullets (now defunct, and not connected to the later team of the same name that is now the Washington Wizards) before being traded to the Celtics soon after.

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The Oakland product would play two seasons with Boston before ankle injuries ended his playing career and would average 9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists with the team.

(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

It is also the anniversary of the Celtics’ very first playoff win, in 1948.

It came against the now-defunct Chicago Stags in the Basketball Association of America (BAA – a precursor league to the NBA) playoffs of the 1947-48 season and saw Boston win the game 81-77, but lose the series 2-1.

Happy birthday in heaven John Richter. Boston Celtics. Champion. pic.twitter.com/K97iazyLU7

— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) March 12, 2023

Today is also the date of the 1959 NBA draft, held in Cincinnati, Ohio. The event saw the Celtics take two players of note, the first being John Richter out of NC State, taken eighth overall.

Richter played just one season for Boston, the Philadelphia native winning a title with the Celtics in a reserve role in 1960.

The center logged 4.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game over that season.

Gene Conley, left, of the Boston Celtics snags a rebound from the reach of teammate Gene Guarilia as Rudy LaRusseo of the Minneapolis Lakers moves out of the way in their NBA game at the Boston Garden, Feb. 26, 1960. Watching the action at right is John Richter of the Celtics. The Celts won the game, 128-111. (AP Photo/Peter J. Carroll)

Boston also took George Washington’s Gene Guarilia with the 16th pick, and the Duryeah, Pennsylvania native would play four seasons for the Celtics at the small forward position.

Guarilia won a title with Boston in each of those seasons, recording a career total of 3.2 points and 2.3 boards per game over that period.

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