On this day in Boston Celtics history, former franchise point guard Demetrius Montell Jackson Jr. was signed to a multi-year deal after being drafted in the second round with the 45th overall pick of the 2016 NBA draft.
A product of the University of Notre Dame, Jackson played in the Las Vegas and Utah Summer Leagues that summer, putting up promising numbers ahead of his rookie season with the Celtics. He would spend the bulk of his inaugural season with Boston’s G League developmental affiliates — the (Portland) Maine Red Claws (now, Celtics) — appearing in five regular-season games with the parent club as well.
The South Bend, Indiana native would average just 2 points per game over that stretch, however, and would be waived and stretched at the end of the season.
It was on this date that former Boston power forward Alaa Abdelnaby signed with the Sacramento Kings in free agency in 1994.
Abdelnaby came to the team in a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks in 1992 for Jon Berry and draft assets and would play 76 games for the Celtics over two seasons. He put up 7.6 points and 4.6 boards over that stretch.
Former Celtics small forward Phil Hankinson was born today, in Augusta, Georgia in 1951.
Drafted by Boston with the 35th overall pick in the 1973 draft, the Penn alum would play just two seasons in the league with the Celtics, winning a championship as a reserve option in 1974 before a knee injury ended his career.
He logged 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per contest with Boston.
Happy birthday Earl Tatum! #Celtics pic.twitter.com/ai9VHXmMaS
— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) July 26, 2020
Ex-Celtic shooting guard Earl Tatum shares the birthday with him, born in 1953 in Mount Vernon, New York. The Marquette product joined the team when he was dealt from the Indiana Pacers to Boston for draft considerations in 1978.
Tatum would play but three games for the franchise before being traded again, this time to the Detroit Pistons for Chris Ford and draft assets. He scored 6.7 points and 1.3 rebounds per tilt while a Celtic.
Finally, it is the birthday of former Boston guard Delonte West as well. West was drafted 24th overall in the 2004 NBA draft out of St. Joseph’s and would play four seasons for the Celtics in two stints, averaging 9.8 points, 3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game with Boston.
He would leave the Celtics the first time in a deal that sent Jeff Green, Wally Szczerbiak, and draft assets for Ray Allen and Glen Davis to Boston, and left the second time as a free agent signing with the Dallas Mavericks.
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