On this day in 1970, former Boston Celtics small forward Bruce Bowen was born in Merced, California.
Bowen played his collegiate ball with Cal State Fullerton, and was signed by the Miami Heat in 1997 after several stints overseas, having gone undrafted in the 1993 NBA Draft.
While Bowen only played one game for the Heat, it was enough to get him noticed by the Celtics, who signed him as a free agent the next year.
With Boston, the Californian would slowly establish a reputation as a defensive stalwart, eventually earning an All-Defensive Second Team nomination.
He would play two seasons in total for the Celtics, averaging 4.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and as many steals per game.
It is also the birthday of former Celtic point guard Rick Brunson, father of current Dallas Mavericks point guard Jalen Brunson.
Born today in 1972 in Syracuse, New York, Brunson played for Temple at the collegiate level before going undrafted and playing in Australia before stints in the Continental Basketball Association.
He would work his way into the NBA, playing for the Portland Trail Blazers and New York Knicks before signing with Boston in 2000.
Brunson played just seven games with the Celtics, over which he logged 3.7 points, 1.3 boards, 3.4 assists and a steal per contest.
