On this day in Boston Celtics history, the storied Massachusetts franchise would select four players of note in the 1964 NBA Draft, held in New York City as it typically was in that era.
They did not however draft future Celtics champion forward Paul Silas, who was instead taken out of Creighton University by the (then) St. Louis (now, Atlanta) Hawks in the second round of the draft with the 10th overall pick (there were many more rounds with far fewer teams in that era of the draft). Silas would play for the Hawks in St. Louis and after they moved to Atlanta, Georgia as well as the Phoenix Suns before being dealt to Boston in the spring of 1972.
There, he would win two banners, be elected to multiple All-Defensive teams and an All-Star Game — among many other honors.
Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images
Boston instead took center Joe Strawder with the 34th overall pick out of Bradley, but the big man never suited up for the Celtics.
He was instead sent to the Detroit Pistons for cash considerations, where he played three seasons.
#RIP Ron Bonham. #NBA player 2 seasons with the #Celtics 1964-6, winning NBA title in both seasons over the #Lakers pic.twitter.com/yLzG2Dx0P7
— RIP2021 (@RIP_2021) April 17, 2016
The Celtics also drafted small forward Ron Bonham out of Cincinnati with the 16th overall pick.
Bonham would win two rings with Boston, in 1965 and 1966 — his sole two seasons with the team. He averaged 6.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game over that stretch.
Bill Russell (6) of the Boston Celtics dribbles ball as Mel Counts (31) of the Los Angeles Lakers attempts to break up the play in second period of their National Basketball Association game at Boston Garden, Sunday, April 22, 1968, Boston, Mass. Boston won 107 to 101 to lead series 1-0. (AP Photo)
Boston selected big man Mel Counts with the seventh overall pick out of Oregon State, and Counts would also win two championships with the Celtics, again in 1965 and 1966.
He played just those two seasons with Boston, recording 6.8 points, 5.8 boards and 0.6 assists per contest.
John Thompson. Boston Celtics. Number 18. World Champion pic.twitter.com/xZOFvvgOHM
— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) August 31, 2020
Finally, the Celtics drafted center John Thompson, who also played just two seasons with Boston, both banner years, again 1965 and 1966.
Thompson would go on to have a Hall of Fame coaching career immediately after retiring as a player in 1966, averaging 3.5 points, as many boards and 0.3 assists per game as a Celtic.
Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett (5) is congratulated by teammate Boston Celtics forward Leon Powe (0) during Game 7 of an NBA first-round playoff basketball series in Boston, Sunday, May 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
It is also the anniversary of two victories since the season of Boston’s last championship in 2007-08, both coming against the Atlanta Hawks four years apart.
The first was a 99 – 65 Game 7 blowout in 2008 that saw Boston advance to face LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round.
Kevin Garnett scored 18 points and 11 rebounds, Paul Pierce 22 points and 8 boards, and Leon Powe 12 points off the bench.
Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett (5) rubs the head of teammate Ray Allen during Game 3 of an NBA first-round playoff basketball series, Friday, May 4, 2012, in Boston. The Celtics defeated the Hawks 90-84, leading the series 2-1. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
In 2012, Boston beat the Hawks 90 – 84 in overtime behind a triple-double from point guard Rajon Rondo, who scored 17 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists.
“I felt good about all the shots I took,” Rondo said via the Associated Press. “My teammates told me to stay aggressive. Nights like tonight when I take a lot of shots, I finally found a way to get my team a win.”
Pierce added 21 points and 5 boards, KG 20 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks, and Ray Allen 13 points and 6 rebounds off of the bench.
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
