On this day in Boston Celtics history, reserve guard Eddie House signed a multi-year deal with the team. The Berkeley, California native had previously played for the Miami Heat (he was drafted by that team out of Arizona State with the 37th pick of the 2000 NBA draft), Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks, the Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, and (the then) New Jersey (now, Brooklyn) Nets before joining Boston in true journeyman fashion.
House would become a key part of the Celtics’ 2008 title team’s bench offense, providing microwave scoring off the bench that would end up proving critical to winning Banner 17.
He would play three seasons with Boston, averaging 7.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game over that stretch.
It is also the date in 1994 that former Celtics center Pervis ‘Never Nervous’ Ellison signed with the team as a free agent after stints with the Kings (who had selected him with the top overall pick of the 1989 NBA draft) and Washington Bullets (now, Wizards).
The Louisville alum’s career was plagued by injury, and it didn’t get better with Boston.
He would miss an entire season in 1998-99, and played a mere 78 games over the final four seasons he was able to play.
Ellison put up 4.7 points and 5 boards per game during his time as a Celtic.
It is the same date that the Celtics signed undrafted North Carolina guard Jackie Manuel in 2007.
He’d been spending time injured and in the NBA’s D League (today’s G League) in the season between his draft class of 2005, but was waived before the 2007-08 season began, never playing for Boston.
Former Boston forward Frank Brickowski signed with the team on this date as well, in 1996.
It would be the last stop on his 12-season career, the Penn State product appearing in just 17 games for the Celtics, averaging 4.8 points and 2 rebounds per game while with the team.
Happy birthday in heaven Johnny Simmons. Shown here with brother Connie and Celtics Coach John “Honey” Russell. The Simmons brothers are one of the few siblings to each score 15 points in one game in NBA history. How about that! pic.twitter.com/DbDd8rflzG
— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) July 7, 2023
Finally, today is also the day we lost guard Johnny Simmons — brother of fellow Celtics alum Connie Simmons — in 2008.
A member of the inaugural Celtics squad of the 1946-47 season, the NYU alum played a total of 60 games for Boston that campaign, his only with the Celtics and as a pro.
He averaged 5.3 points per game with Boston — rest in peace.
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