September 2nd is a significant date in Boston Celtics history, marking the birthdays of John Thompson and Nate Archibald, the 2009 signing of Marquis Daniels, and the passing of Bob Kinney in 1985. The team's current focus is on improving.
Who were the Celtics born on this date?
John Thompson was born in Washington, D.C. on this date. The Celtics selected him with the 25th overall pick in the 1964 NBA Draft. He played a reserve role for two seasons, backing up Bill Russell and earning the nickname "the Caddy." Thompson won an NBA championship in both of his seasons with Boston before retiring to become a coach.
He later became the head coach at Georgetown University. Thompson was the first Black coach to win an NCAA title, mentoring Hall of Famers like Allen Iverson. He later worked as a basketball analyst for TNT and ESPN until his death in 2020.
Nate Archibald was also born on September 2, in 1948 in the Bronx, New York. The point guard played five seasons for the Celtics after a complex trade. He won a title with Boston in 1981. With the Celtics, Archibald averaged 12.5 points and 7.1 assists per game.
What transaction happened on this day?
On September 2, 2009, the Boston Celtics signed wing Marquis Daniels as an unrestricted free agent. Daniels came from Auburn University and played 138 games over parts of three seasons with the team.
His time in Boston included a scary on-court fall that fans remember. Daniels averaged 4.9 points and 2 rebounds per game for the Celtics. He left the team in 2012 to join the Milwaukee Bucks. You can review the current team's roster moves on our roster page.
Who passed away on this date?
Former Boston Celtics big man Bob Kinney passed away on September 2, 1985. Kinney was born in Texas in 1920 and played his college basketball at Rice University. He joined the Celtics in January of 1949 after a cash deal.
Kinney played two seasons for Boston between 1949 and 1950. In that era, rebounds were not officially recorded. He averaged 10.8 points and 1.6 assists per game during his Celtics tenure.
How does this history connect to the current Celtics?
Looking back at these historical figures reminds us of the franchise's deep roots. The current team is working to build its own legacy.
The team will aim to channel the championship pedigree of players like Thompson and Archibald as they prepare for future challenges. Fans can track their progress in the standings.