On this day in 1997, the Boston Celtics waived Croatian big man Dino Radja to make way for new head coach and team president Rick Pitino’s vision for the team.
Radja had been with the Celtics for four seasons after being drafted 40th overall by Boston in the 1989 NBA Draft.
He had to wait to join the team, however, as his Yugoslavian team Jugoplastika fought in court to keep his rights to the end of his contract with them, followed by a stint with an Italian team.
He would finally join the Celtics in July of 1993, but the injuries sustained towards the end of his first deal with Boston and the incoming new regime spelled the end of his time in Boston.
Over those four seasons with the Celtics, he averaged averaged 16.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
It is also the anniversary of former Celtics center Patrick O’Bryant signing with Boston in 2008.
The reserve big man played one season with the team, appearing in 26 games over which he logged 1.5 points and 1.3 boards per contest.
It is also the birthday of ex-Boston big man Chris Mihm, who came into this world in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1979.
He would be dealt to the team in 2003 from the Cleveland Cavaliers with Ricky Davis, Michael Stewart and draft assets in exchange for Tony Battie, Kedrick Brown and Eric Williams.
He would play one season with the team before being traded again with Chucky Atkins and Jumaine Jones to the Los Angeles Lakers for Rick Fox, Gary Payton and draft assets, averaging 6.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
