On this day in 2002, the Boston Celtics signed big man Rubén Wolkowyski as an unrestricted free agent.
A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wolkowyski played for several clubs in his home country before landing a spot on the Seattle Supersonics in 2000.
After stints playing back home in Argentina and in Russia, the Argentinian got on Boston’s radar, inking a deal for one season with the team.
He would play a mere seven games for the team in a reserve role that season, scoring just 0.7 points, 0.1 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game over that stretch, his deal waived in February of 2002.
@SeanGrandePBP Ruben Wolkowyski #45: Signed as freeagent 9/16/02 w #Celtics & waived 2/21/02. Currently plays for Club La Unión in Argentina
— Dr. Jeff (@drjefflo) July 1, 2013
Wolkowyski would go on to have a long and successful career playing overseas.
Former Boston big man Bob Kinney was also born on this date in 1920 in Bexar County, Texas.
He would play his college ball with Rice, and would play for the (then) Fort Wayne (now, Detroit) Pistons before joining the Celtics in a trade in 1949.
Happy birthday in heaven Charlie “Dutch” Hoefer and Bob Kinney. #Celtics pic.twitter.com/9iPKkLD9Az
— HonestLarry (@HonestLarry1) September 16, 2020
Kinney would play two seasons for Boston, averaging 10.8 points and 1.6 assists per game (rebounds were not yet tabulated).
Former Boston point guard Dan Dickau shares the birthday with him, having been born on this date in Portland Oregon in 1978.
Dickau would play collegiately for Gonzaga, drafted 28th overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2002 NBA Draft.
Happy birthday Dan Dickau! # Celtics pic.twitter.com/QXNiqJIHBE
— HonestLarry (@HonestLarry1) September 16, 2020
He would play stints for the Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks and (then) New Orleans Hornets (now, Pelicans) before being traded to the Celtics in 2005.
The Portland native would play just 19 games with the team before rupturing his Achilles tendon.
That summer, he would be dealt with Dickau, center Raef LaFrentz and draft assets to the Trail Blazers for Theo Ratliff and Sebastian Telfair.
He averaged 3.3 points per game and 2.1 assists per game while with Boston.
Finally, former Celtic guard Charlie Hoefer was also born today, in 1921 in Frankfurt, Germany.
A product of Queens College, Hoefer would be dealt to the team for Red Wallace from the Toronto Huskies.
He would play 35 games for Boston in its inaugural season of 1946-47, and 7 more the following season before retiring from league to play in the American Basketball League, primarily for the Wilmington Bombers.
[jwplayer SLANzzVn]
