Feb. 1, 2026, 5:02 a.m. ET

Today in Boston Celtics history, Walter Lee McCarty was born in Evansville, Indiana in 1974. McCarty played his NCAA basketball for Kentucky under eventual Celtics coach and President of Basketball Operations Rick Pitino before he was picked up with the 19th overall selection of the 1996 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks.

He played a total of 35 games there before being dealt to the Celtics with Scott Brooks, Dontae’ Jones, and John Thomas in October 1997 for Chris Mills and draft picks, where he played for eight seasons altogether before being traded again, this time to the Phoenix Suns for a 2007 second-round draft pick.

The Kentucky alum averaged 5.7 points and 2.8 boards per game in his time in green and white as a player, and would later return to serve as an assistant coach with Boston from 2013 to 2018.

LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 15: Walter McCarty #0 of the Boston Celtics leans on teammate Bruno Sundov #41 during the NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on February 15, 2003 in Los Angeles, California. The Celtics won 92-84. 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 Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)Birthdays

It is also the birthday of former Celtic center Andrew DeClercq, born this day in 1973 in Detroit, Michigan. DeClercq played his college ball at the University of Florida before being drafted 34th overall in the 1995 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors.

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The Detroit native played two seasons for that club before signing with the Celts in 1997 and averaged 5.4 points and 4.8 boards per game with the team over parts of two seasons.

Debuts

Dermie O’Connell made his debut on this date in a 76-68 loss to the Rochester Royals (now, Sacramento Kings) in 1949.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 22: The Boston Celtics 2024 Championship banner is raised before the game against the New York Knicks at TD Garden on October 22, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)

The Holy Cross alum scored a single point off of a free throw. The same game was also the debut of Holy Cross alum George Kaftan. The Celtics forward put up 10 points in his first game playing for Boston.

Transactions

The first of February is the anniversary of former Celtics forward Fred Saunders being traded to the (then) New Orleans Jazz (now, Utah) for draft assets. Saunders spent two seasons playing for Boston after signing as a free agent in 1976, averaging 5.1 points and 2.8 boards per game with the club.

Oct 22, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Tee shirts drap arena chairs on banner night for the Boston Celtics before the start of the game against the New York Knicks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

It’s also the anniversary of the Celtics waiving center Greg Kite after five seasons with the club. Drafted 21st by Boston in the 1983 NBA draft, Kite was a deep rotation player who never really panned out for Boston, though he became a quality bench option later in his career.

Rest in peace

It was on this day we lost Ward B. “Hoot” Gibson Jr. in 1958 after a tragic car accident cut his life short at age 36.

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)

Born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1921, Gibson went undrafted out of Creighton. He played for the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now, Atlanta Hawks) and the Denver Nuggets (as opposed to the more recent iteration) of the NBL (a precursor league absorbed into the NBA) before joining the Celtics in the NBA. 1949.

Gibson averaged 3.5 points per game with Boston – rest in peace.