On this day, famed Boston Celtics announcer Johnny Most was born in 1923 in New York City.
Named for his paternal grandfather, an anarchist newspaper editor named Johann Most, the former Celtics announcer was perhaps best known for his explosive call at the end of Game 7 of the 1965 NBA East Division Finals when he shouted “Havlicek stole the ball!” in his trademark gravelly voice.
Most called games for the Celtics for 37 years between 1953 and 1990, covering some of the most iconic moments in franchise history — and in the case of several of them, helping make some of them especially iconic.
Most would pass after a heart attack sustained in 1993, and was posthumously honored with the Curt Gowdy Media Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport.
It is also the date of the 1989 NBA expansion draft, which saw teams allow the newly-formed Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves draft unprotected players from the already-existing teams in the NBA, each allowed to protect their favored players from being taken.
The Celtics saw big man Mark Acres taken from them in the draft, who had played two seasons for the team after signing with the franchise as a free agent in 1987.
He averaged 3 points and as many boards per game over that stretch.
It is the birthday of former Boston big man Jérôme Moïso, drafted out of UCLA by the Celtics 11th overall in the 2000 NBA Draft.
He played just 24 games with the team before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for Roshown McLeod and draft considerations, averaging 1.5 points and 1.8 rebounds in his time with Boston.
