March 23, 2026, 6:00 a.m. ET
Today in Boston Celtics history, Gordon Daniel Hayward was born in 1990 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He played his college basketball for the Butler Bulldogs under Coach Brad Stevens, who later became his coach with the Celtics (and later, their President of Basketball Operations). In 2010, Hayward was drafted ninth overall by the Utah Jazz.
Hayward made his first All-Star appearance with the Jazz in 2017 before leaving in free agency to join the Boston Celtics that same year. Over three seasons with the Celtics, he averaged 13.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, despite suffering a career-altering ankle injury just minutes into his tenure with the team.
Hayward left to join the Charlotte Hornets in free agency in November 2020.
It happens to be the birthday of Jeff Judkins as well, a forward who came into this world on this day in 1956 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He played his college ball with Utah, and was picked up with the 30th overall selection of the 1978NBA Draft by the Celtics. His stay with the team lasted until he signed with the Utah Jazz, averaging 7.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.
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Today is also the birthday of Joseph Xavier Forte, who was born in 1981 in Atlanta, Georgia. He played two seasons at UNC-Chapel Hill before being selected by Boston 21st overall in the 2001 NBA Draft.
Forte averaged 0.8 points and as many rebounds and assists per game in his single season with the Celtics. He was traded along with Kenny Anderson and Vitaly Potapenko for Vin Baker and Shammond Williams in 2002.
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It is also the anniversary of legendary Boston big Dave Cowens being drafted by the Celtics fourth overall in the 1970 NBA Draft out of Florida State despite criticisms he was too small to play the position at 6-foot-9. The Kentuckian won two rings with Boston and made eight All-Star games in his ten seasons with the team – among many other honors – averaging 18.2 points, 14 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in that stretch.
Former Celtic big man Ryan Hollins signed with Boston as a late-season buyout after being released by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2012. Hollins added depth to an aging Celtics bench, and he averaged 2.8 points and 1.7 boards with Boston for the remainder of the season.