On this day: ex-Boston big man Marvin Barnes passes; John Thomas born

On this day in Boston Celtics history, former Celtics power forward Marvin Barnes passed away in 2014. Barnes was a native of nearby Providence, Rhode Island. After being born in the smallest state in the U.S. in 1952, he played his NCAA basketball with the hometown Providence College Friars before being drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1974 NBA draft.

The Rhode Islander elected to sign with the Spirits of St. Louis of the American Basketball Association (ABA) instead, playing for that franchise for two seasons before joining the Detroit Pistons in 1976 after the Spirits of St. Louis dispersal draft.

The dispersal draft was the result of the ABA-NBA merger when that team did not join the NBA.

The Pistons trade Barnes to the Buffalo Braves in 1977, who in turn dealt him to the Celtics in 1978.

Barnes played 38 games for Boston in the 1978-79 season, averaging 8.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while with the team.

It is also the birthday of former Boston big man John Thomas, born today in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1975.

A standout with the University of Minnesota, Thomas was drafted by the New York Knicks with the 25th pick of the 1995 NBA draft.

He never suited up for New York, however. He was dealt with Dontae’ Jones, Walter McCarty, and Scott Brooks (yes, that Scott Brooks) to the Celtics in exchange for Chris Mills and draft assets.

Thomas played only 33 games for Boston in the 1997-98 season. In them, he averaged 3.3 points and 2.1 boards before being traded with Chauncey Billups, Dee Brown, and Roy Rogers to the Toronto Raptors for Kenny Anderson, Popeye Jones, and Žan Tabak in 1998.

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Story originally appeared on Celtics Wire