When reflecting on the players who made the Boston Celtics a powerhouse in the 1980s, it’s easy to focus on the Big Three — Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale.
Apart from them, if the credit is usually shared, it falls on role players like Dennis Johnson, Bill Walton, and Danny Ainge, who many believe could become bigger stars, yet adjusted in their roles to help the team build a lasting legacy. However, for veteran journalist Bob Ryan, there was one player whose value was often overlooked as the underrated X-factor.
Ryan on how valuable Wedman was for the Celtics
Wedman joined the C’s midway through the 1982-83 campaign. Though he was a quality two-way player and former two-time All-Star, “Scotty” was never seen as a starter alongside Bird and Co. since they already had set players in that position. Unsurprisingly, he started in only 31 of the 271 games he appeared in.
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Moreover, while he averaged 34.7 and 32.9 minutes per game playing for the Kansas City Kings and Cleveland Cavaliers, respectively, that number dipped to under 15 minutes per game with the Celtics. Thus, he could not average any better than 6.2 points per game during his stint there.
Nevertheless, according to Ryan, those numbers never reflected Wedman’s true value. Instead, the Celtics coaching staff always knew they had a quality forward on the bench who could leverage his size to make a game-changing impact on both ends of the floor.
“His contribution were not gargantuan but they were significant. In ’85-86, McHale got hurt late in January… and they are able to plug in Scott Wedman as a starting forward and didn’t miss a beat,” Ryan said. “He was a hard worker. The other thing, those of us who covered him remembered about him, he was a big health food guy – not eating any hot dogs. He’s not a Hall of Famer, but he was on that next level. He’s a nice player… and should be remembered.”
Bob wasn’t the only one who thought so highly of the two-time NBA champion. Even coach KC Jones appreciated Wedman’s team-first and disciplined mentality. He saw him as someone who never complained even if, after a quality performance, he didn’t get more minutes.
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“Wedman’s not only a good player, he’s a very good player,” Jones said about the 6’7″ small forward.
Wedman never succumbed under pressure
One reason the 6’7″ small forward never received widespread recognition during his Celtics tenure was that many believed his best years were behind him. A tragic car accident in 1979 changed the trajectory of his career.
Although he still managed to earn an All-Defensive Second Team nod and another All-Star selection afterward, his numbers dipped during his time in Cleveland. That led many to view him as merely a backup — a serviceable player who could step in if a starter went down.
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However, as Ryan admitted, embracing that kind of role also takes immense character and talent. Even off the bench, “Scotty” may not have been the most celebrated player. Still, his readiness to always give his best effort on the court when called upon showed why he deserved the praise he never got.