Today in Boston Celtics history, Paul Pierce was nearly stabbed to death in an area nightclub. The Kansas star was picked up by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick of the 1998 NBA Draft and was set to start his third season with the storied ball club when he was stabbed 11 times in total, in the face, neck, and chest at the trendy “Buzz Club” in Boston’s Theater District.
Boston big man Tony Battie was out that night with The Truth, and saved Pierce’s life through his fast action, quickly rushing the Los Angeles native to a nearby hospital to treat his many wounds. There, Pierce underwent emergency surgery that likely saved his life. Despite the near-death experience, Pierce recovered quickly and played all 82 regular-season games in the 2000-01 NBA season. He later pledged $2.5 million to the Tufts-New England Medical Center, which helped save his life.
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Years later, Pierce revealed he had suffered from depression and paranoia — especially in crowds — due to the incident, hiring round-the-clock police protection and carrying a gun for some time.
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On this date in 1986, the Celtics obtained big man Fred Roberts from the Utah Jazz for a first-round pick. Roberts played two seasons with Boston, averaging 5.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and an assist per game, before being selected by the Miami Heat in the 1988 NBA expansion draft.
Apr 23, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; The NBA palyoff logo is seen on the court before game two of first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
A little less than a year later, the Jazz used the pick they’d received for Roberts to select current Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan.
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Bubble history
It is the date of Boston’s last win in the Disney bubble, a 121-108 decision against the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the 2020 Eastern Conference finals. The win was driven by 31 points and 10 rebounds from All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum and 28 points from his partner on the wing, Jaylen Brown.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 25: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and Daniel Theis #27 of the Boston Celtics react after their win over the Miami Heat in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 25, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
“It’s not going to be perfect,” Tatum said after the game via the AP. “You just want to give yourself a chance.”
“Boston played great in that second half,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra related. “They deserved and earned what they got.”
Birthdays
Today is the birthday of Celtics short-timer Bob McAdoo, born in 1951 in Greensboro, North Carolina. A UNC graduate, McAdoo was drafted by the then-Buffalo Braves (now, Celtics — it’s a long story), and played for them and the New York Knicks before being traded to Boston in 1979 on a lark by the Celtics’ team owner in a move that nearly drove away legendary manager Red Auerbach. The North Carolina native played 20 games for the Celtics before he was dealt to the Detroit Pistons. He averaged 20.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block per game over that stretch.
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McAdoo shares that birthday with former Celtics draft pick Chauncey Billups, who came into the world on this day in 1976 in Denver, Colorado. Drafted from his hometown University of Colorado, Billups played 51 games of his rookie season with the Celtics. He was traded away by general manager Rick Pitino to the Toronto Raptors. Billups logged 11.1 points, 4.3 boards, and 1.1 assists per contest in that period.
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Finally, the two also share their birthday with Carl Braun, a native of Brooklyn, New York, who was born in 1927. The one-time Colgate player played the last season of a 13-year career with the Celtics, after spending the previous 12 with the Knicks. Braun appeared in just 48 games for Boston.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Pierce survives stabbing; Roberts deal; last bubble win