Today in Boston Celtics history, in 1980, Kevin McHale made his debut for the Boston Celtics during a home game, leading the team to a decisive victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers with a final score of 130-103.
The rookie power forward put up 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocked shots in just 13 minutes of play off the bench, logging an impressive shooting percentage of 44.4 percent from the field and a flawless 2-of-2 from the free throw line. This outing only hinted at the future formidable stat lines the University of Minnesota alumnus produced for the Celtics, as he laid the groundwork for one of the most distinguished careers at his position in NBA history.
And it certainly wasn't a debut to sneeze at, either.
Historic milestones
It was also the debut
of Wayne Kreklow, who logged a single bucket in 5 minutes of playing time, a perfect if underwhelming shooting night for the Drake University alum's first game.
He went on to play 24 more games for Boston, averaging 1.2 points per game with the Celtics.
Transactions
It is also the date Michael Leon Carr (better known to most of us as "M.L.") signed with the team for the first time. An alum of Guilford College, Carr was drafted by the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association (ABA - a competing league that would merge with the NBA in 1978). The Colonels cut him, however, and Carr spent a season overseas in Israel after signing with the Celtics on this date in 1974, not making the team. He later returned to the ABA to play for the Spirit of St. Louis.
That team was among the teams that did not join the NBA when the merger happened in 1976, so Carr joined the Detroit Pistons as a free agent, then the Celtics the following season, where he played six seasons, winning two titles in 1981 and 1984. Carr averaged 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists as a player for the Celtics, and later coached and served as general manager of the team.
Birthdays
It is also the birthday of Kenny Battle, born this day in Aurora, Illinois in 1964, who played 11 games for the team across two seasons. Battle, an alum of Illinois taken by the Detroit Pistons with the 27th pick of the 1989 NBA Draft, played stints with the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets before signing a pair of 10-day deals to join the Celtics mid-season in 1992. He returned as a free agent that fall, and averaged 2.5 points and 1.8 rebounds per game with the team.
Finally, it is also the birthday of Ryan Hollins, born today in 1984 in Pasadena, California. Hollins played college ball at UCLA and was selected with the 50th pick of the 2006 NBA Draft by the (then) Charlotte Bobcats (now, Hornets). The former Bruin played there, with the Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Cleveland Cavaliers before he signed with the Celtics in 2012. He played just 15 contests, logging 2.8 points and 1.7 rebounds per game.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Today in Boston Celtics history: McHale, Kreklow debut; Carr signs; Hollins, Battle born
