The Boston Celtics signed forward David Thirdkill as an unrestricted free agent on this date in 1985. The franchise also remembers former player Brandon Hunter, who passed away in 2023.
David "The Sheriff" Thirdkill joined the Celtics after stints with four other NBA teams. He was originally the 15th overall pick in the 1982 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. Thirdkill played his college basketball at Bradley University, earning Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors.
His NBA journey included stops with the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, and San Antonio Spurs before landing in Boston. Thirdkill was thrilled to join the Celtics' storied franchise. He told the Chicago Tribune that being with a team of that tradition and championship caliber was a great opportunity.
In a reserve role, David Thirdkill won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 1986. Over two seasons and 66 total games with the team, he averaged 2.8 points and 1.3 rebounds per contest. His contributions came primarily off the bench during a successful era for the franchise.
After his time in Boston, Thirdkill built a successful professional career overseas. His path shows how players can find different ways to contribute to a title-winning team. You can explore the profiles of current Celtics contributors on our roster page.
Today also marks the anniversary of the passing of former Celtics forward Brandon Hunter. Boston selected Hunter with the 56th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. He played his rookie season with the Celtics before a stint with the Orlando Magic.
Hunter then start a long professional career overseas. His sudden passing occurred during a hot yoga class in 2023, about a decade after he had stepped away from playing basketball. He was an alum of Ohio University.
The present-day Celtics are in a challenging phase of their schedule.
This look back at franchise history comes as the modern team seeks to regain its winning momentum. The legacy of players like Thirdkill and Hunter is part of the fabric of the organization. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming games on our schedule page as they aim to turn their form around.
