On this date in 1968, former Boston Celtics reserve point guard Emmette “Em” Bryant was traded to the Celtics for a second-round pick.
Bryant played his college ball with the DePaul Blue Demons, and was drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1964 NBA Draft.
He would play four seasons for that team before being drafted away by the newly-formed Phoenix Suns in the 1968 NBA Expansion Draft, held to populate the recently-founded Suns’ and Milwaukee Bucks’ rosters.
The Chicago native would never suit up for the Suns however, traded to Boston for the pick instead, and would win a title with the team as a backup floor general in 1969 for his troubles.
Watching Game 7 of the '69 NBA Finals. Don't think I'd ever heard of Em Bryant before. Dude dropped 20 on the Lakers on their floor after averaging 5.7 for the season. Style for days too. pic.twitter.com/agwLgdvNOx
— Russ Bengtson (@russbengtson) August 6, 2019
The former Blue Demon would play two seasons with the Celtics in total before he was taken in yet another NBA expansion draft, this time by the then- Buffalo Braves (now, Los Angeles Clippers) in the 1970 NBA Expansion Draft, this one held to roster players for the Braves and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Bryant averaged 6.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while with Boston.
