Today in Boston Celtics history, Rasheed Wallace was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1974. An alum of the North Carolina, Wallace made First Team All Atlantic Coast Conference in 1995 with UNC before he would be selected by the Washington (then) Bullets (now, Wizards) with the fourth overall pick in the NBA draft that same year.
Wallace then played for that team, the Portland Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, and Detroit Pistons (where he would win an NBA title in 2004) before signing with the Celtics as a free agent in 2009. Wallace would sign a three-year contract with Boston that offseason. The big man had a tough season with the team in terms of production during the regular season, registering at or near-career lows in several counting stats. The Celtics would get to the NBA Finals with Wallace in 2010 but would fall to the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games.
Advertisement
Wallace would temporarily retire (he would attempt a comeback in two seasons with the New York Knicks) at the end of the season, having averaged 9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and an assist per game while with the team.
BOSTON – MAY 28: Vince Carter #15 of the Orlando Magic drives against Tony Allen #42 (L) and Rasheed Wallace #30 of the Boston Celtics in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on May 28, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
More birthdays
It is also the birthday of Kermit Washington, born this day in 1951 in Washington, D.C. Washington played his college ball at American University and was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the fifth pick of the 1973 NBA Draft.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Confetti covers the Boston Celtics logo after Boston’s 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
He played for that club for five seasons before being dealt with Don Chaney and draft assets to the Celtics, for whom he would play 32 games in the 1977-78 season before being traded yet again. He averaged 11.8 points, 10.5 boards, 1.3 assists, and as many blocks per game as a Celtic.
Advertisement
Bubble history
It is also on this date that the Celtics lost Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Finals to the Miami Heat 106-101. Boston dropped a critical contest they led by a solid margin for much of the second and third quarters. Miami took a 2-0 series lead in the Disney Bubble with the win with 25 points from point guard Goran Dragic and 21 more from big man Bam Adebayo.
Sep 17, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) defends Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the fourth quarter in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
After the game, the Celtics had a loud discussion that could be heard by reporters waiting for the postgame scrum. “It was nothing,” Walker said to the press later via the AP. “It was nothing.”
Advertisement
“We’re frustrated,” added star forward Jayson Tatum. “But that’s team sports. Not supposed to be happy, we’re down 0 – 2. But that’s nothing out of the ordinary. Just talking about the game. It’s cool.”
Rest in peace
It is also the date of former Celtics point guard Maurice King’s passing in 2007. Born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1934, King would play collegiately for Kansas, from which he would be selected 48th overall by the Celtics in the 1957 NBA draft (there were many more rounds in that era).
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 20: A view of the Boston Celtics Championship Banners at TD Garden on April 20, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
He had among the shortest stints with the team in franchise history, playing just 19 minutes of 1 game. In that contest, he put up 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists before leaving to join the Baltimore Bullets in the Eastern Professional Basketball League (later, the Continental Basketball Association or CBA, that era’s equivalent of a G League).
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Rasheed Wallace, Kermit Washington born