Today in Boston Celtics history, Michael Leon Carr (more often known as “M.L.”) was waived by the team he would one day be the President of Basketball Operations for — but not on that day in 1974. Carr, a Wallace, North Carolina native, played his NCAA basketball with the Guilford College Quakers, a Division III school in Greensboro, North Carolina. Despite the Division III status of his program, Carr managed to get selected 76th overall (there were several more rounds to the NBA draft in that era) by the then-Kansas City/Omaha Kings (now, Sacramento) in the 1973 NBA draft.
But, Carr fared better in the rival American Basketball Association (ABA) draft of that same year. Carr instead chose to sign with the Kentucky Colonels of the upstart league but was waived in camp. On October 10th, Carr would get a camp deal with Boston and gave it the proverbial college try. It would not be enough, however, and by the 15th the North Carolinian had been waived for the second time that summer, heading overseas to play in Israel for a season before returning to the ABA and NBA.
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Carr returned to the team as a player in 1979, winning two titles with the team in 1981 and 1984, and would one day become general manager (1994-97) and coach (1995-97). He would average 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists as a player for the Celtics.
Debuts
It is also the date of former Celtics power forward Clarence Glover’s debut with the team in 1971, in a 97-75 blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors at the Garden.
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)
The Western Kentucky alum — recently taken by Boston with the 10th overall pick of that year’s draft — logged 2 points, as many rebounds, and an assist in 5 minutes of play for a modest first game with the Celtics.
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Jersey retirements
Today is also the date that the Celtics retired the No. 21 jersey of guard Bill Sharman and the No. 15 jersey of Tommy Heinsohn, the two legendary Celtics having their ultimate team honor on the same day in 1966.
For Sharman, it had been five seasons since he retired in 1961 with a total of 4 titles, 8 All-Star bids, and 7 All-NBA team honors to his name among many others. Heinsohn had himself retired from the sport a year prior in 1966, having had a career with 8 titles, 6 All-Star bids, and 4 All-NBA team elections to cap off a Hall of Fame career.
BOSTON – 1960: Bill Sharman #21 of the Boston Celtics poses for a mock action portrait in 1960 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1960 NBAE (Photo by NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images)
Along with the honor of having their jerseys raised up to the rafters on the same day, Heinsohn and Sharman share the honor of being one of a mere five people inducted into the Hall of Fame as both player and coach — former teammate Bill Russell being another.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Carr waived; Heinsohn, Sharman jerseys retired