Today in Boston Celtics history, Jaylen Brown made his debut for the team in 2016, contributing to a 122-117 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who, ironically, had traded the draft pick used by the Celtics to select him in the deal that had sent Hall of Fame Boston legends Kevin Garnett and Payton Pritchard to the Nets in 2013.
In 19 minutes and 27 seconds of play, the former Cal-Berkeley standout recorded 9 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks, along with 1 turnover and 2 fouls. He shot 3-of-4 from the free-throw line and successfully made 3 of his 4 field goal attempts.
Perhaps surprisingly given his future with the team known for such a shot, Brown did not attempt a 3-pointer in his inaugural game in the association.
Historic milestones
Three years
to the date, a pair of Boston big men also had their debut – Vincent Poirier and Tacko Fall. Poirier put up 2 points on two field-goal attempts with 1 turnover and 2 personal fouls in just under 6 minutes of play in the team's 118-95 win over the New York Knicks.
The Senegalese center logged 4 points, 3 boards, a turnover, and 2 personal fouls in just over 3 and a half minutes, hitting 2 of his 4 field goal attempts, all from 2-point range. While the big man duo might not have put up big numbers, both had a solid first game in the league given the short run they were given.
Sam Vincent made his debut for the team on this date in 1985 in a 105-100 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The former Michigan State player pulled down 2 boards and doled out an assist in his first game in the league.
It is also the date that Celtics legends Bob Cousy and Ed Macauley actually had their jerseys retired in 1963. The team lists a date corresponding with the first game of that season, but the ceremony took place on this date.
Birthdays
It is also the date that former Celtics owner Harry Mangurian was born in 1926. Mangurian had his start as an NBA owner with partner John Y. Brown Jr. as owners of the Buffalo Braves. Soon after, Mangurian and Brown struck a deal with the then-Celtics owner to swap franchises so Irvin would be allowed to move his team to the West Coast. Today, technically speaking, the team that is based in Boston was once the Braves and the team that was the Celtics is now the Los Angeles Clippers. Mangurian sold his stake in the team in 1983.
Finally, it is the birthday of former Boston CEO Dave Gavitt, a position he held from 1990 to 1994, born this day in 1937 in Westerly, Rhode Island. Gavitt is of course better known for his role in the creation of the Big East conference at the NCAA level.
Gavitt shares his birthday with Boston point guard Dick Dickie. The former NC State player was born in Grant County, Indiana, in 1926, and was taken by Boston 26th in the 1950 NBA draft. He played just one season for the Celtics, averaging 2.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game with the team.
Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:
Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp
iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47
YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Today in Boston Celtics history: Brown, Poirier, Fall, Vincent debut; Gavitt, Dickey born; Mangurian passes
