On this day in Boston Celtics history, big man Greg Stiemsma made his debut for the team back in 2011. The University of Wisconsin – Madison alum was not picked up by any team in the 2008 NBA draft and would end up playing professionally overseas in Turkey and South Korea as well as at the G League level before signing with the Celtics in December of 2011 as an unrestricted free agent.
It would be several weeks before the former Badger saw any live game action, however, making his debut for the team on the 28th of that month.
His debut came in a 97-78 loss to the (then) New Orleans Hornets (now, Pelicans) on the road.
Stiemsma would score 2 points, 4 rebounds, and an impressive, record-setting 6 blocked shots with no turnovers and 3 personal fouls in just over 20 minutes of playing time.
The Randolph, Wisconsin native would play 54 more games with the team before signing with the Minnesota Timberwolves in free agency.
It was in the very same game that former Boston big man JaJuan Johnson made his Celtic debut as well.
Johnson had played his collegiate ball with the University of Purdue Boilermakers, where he earned consensus All-American, Big Ten Player of the Year, and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors.
He would be drafted 27th overall by the (then) New Jersey Nets (now, Brooklyn), but traded to Boston that night for MarShon Brooks and draft assets, making his debut in the same contest as Stiemsma.
The Indianapolis native would score 4 points, hitting 1-of-2 field-goal attempts and both his attempts from the charity stripe in a little under three and a half minutes of floor time.
He would play just 36 total contests for the Celtics before they included him in a three-team trade that brought Courtney Lee to the team in July 2012.
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