On this day in Boston Celtics history, shooting guard James Young was born in Flint, Michigan in 1995. Young would play his collegiate ball with the University of Kentucky Wildcats, where he would make Second Team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2014. He would soon after being selected by the Celtics with the 17th overall pick of the 2014 NBA draft.
The Flint native would struggle on both ends of the court at the next level, spending much of his time with Boston’s developmental affiliate in the D League (as the G League was known in that era).
This was of course the Maine Red Claws (now Celtics), where he spent a considerable part of his rookie season.
He would play a total of three seasons for the Celtics, but despite some strong showings with the Red Claws, couldn’t put it together at the NBA level.
Young averaged 2.3 points and a rebound per game while with Boston.
It is also the anniversary of former Celtic forward Tom Gugliotta signing with Boston in 2004.
It would be the second-to-last stop in a long career in the league, with prior stops with the Washington Bullets (now, Wizards), Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, and Utah Jazz.
Gugliotta played just 20 games for the Celtics that season before being dealt with Gary Payton and Michael Stewart with draft assets to the Atlanta Hawks for Antoine Walker.
The NC State alum scored 1.3 points and 2.2 rebounds per game with the Celtics.
It is also the anniversary of the massive, four-team trade that sent Danny Fortson to the Warriors and Dana Barros to the Dallas Mavericks for Robert Pack, Hot Rod Williams, draft assets, and cash.
Barros had been with the team for five seasons in a reserve role, while Fortson was a recent arrival, having only played 55 games with the team.
Happy birthday in heaven to former league Rookie of the Year, Howie Shannon. #Celtics pic.twitter.com/OMD1wIRE01
— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) June 10, 2021
Finally, it is also the day we lost wing Howie Shannon in 1995.
Born in Manhattan, Kansas, in 1923, Shannon played his NCAA ball at both the University of North Texas and Kansas State before being drafted by the (now defunct) Providence Steamrollers.
1949: Howie Shannon
Rookie Stats: 13.4pts, 2.3ast, 36.4 FG%, 80.4 FT%.
Playing as a combo guard/forward, Shannon played just two seasons with the Providence Steamrollers and the Boston Celtics before heading into coaching, noteably the 1960 Puerto Rican national team. pic.twitter.com/KwxTSb4hMi
— Justin Bryan (@Justin_G_Bryan) June 30, 2020
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Picked up by Boston in the 1949 dispersal draft after the Steamrollers folded, the Kansan played 67 games for the Celtics that next season of 1949-50, his last as a player.
The Kansas State product put up 8.8 points and 2.6 assists per game, with rebounds yet to be recorded, soon to make the leap into coaching the game. Rest in peace.
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