On this day: Shaq signs, Robert Parish leaves, Tiny Archibald trade; Arnie Risen passes
On this day in Boston Celtics history, the team signed Hall of Fame big man Shaquille “Shaq” Rashaun O’Neal to the final stint of his storied career. The Newark, New Jersey native was enticed by the principal owner of the Celtics Wyc Grousbeck, who used O’Neal’s rivalry with Kobe Bryant over the number of banners each had won to convince him to sign with Boston.
After securing head coach Doc Rivers’ approval on an assurance there would be no locker room subterfuge as had followed Shaq in the past. O’Neal signed a two-year minimum deal worth $2.8 million on this date on this date in 2010.
Shaq’s tenure as a Celtic did not result in a ring for him, with injury to him and several teammates derailing a Finals run and ultimately ending in his retirement from the sport at the end of the 2010-11 season.
It is also the date that another Hall of Fame big man had a career moment with the team, with Robert Parish electing to leave the team in free agency in 1994 at the age of 41 to join the Charlotte Hornets.
Chief — as he is sometimes called — was dealt to Boston from the Golden State Warriors along with the pick that became Kevin McHale in 1980 and would win three titles with the Celtics while averaging 16.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game over 14 seasons.
It was also on this date that Nate “Tiny” Archibald was traded to the Celtics by the (then) San Diego Clippers (now, Los Angeles) soon after they had moved from Buffalo, swapping franchise ownership with Boston.
While Tiny had a bit of a rough start with Boston after showing up to camp overweight, he would later win a title with the team in 1981 and made several All-Star teams and an All-NBA Second Team during his time with the team.
Today is also the anniversary of the third game of the Orlando bubble restart for Boston, which saw the Celtics lose a game to the Miami Heat 112-106.
The Celtics were led by Jayson Tatum’s 23 points and 7 rebounds with Jaylen Brown adding 18 points and 10 boards in the loss.
“We let our emotions play too much of a part today,” Tatum said via the AP. “We’ve just got to do a better job of just focusing on what we can control and not worry about other things.”
Finally, it is also the day we lost Arnold Denny “Stilts” Risen in 2012.
The Ohio State product played the first seven seasons of his NBA career with the (then) Rochester Royals (now, Sacramento Kings), joining the Celtics when they sold his rights to Boston in 1955.
A two-time champion with the Royals (1951) and Celtics (1957) both, the Hall of Fame Kentucky native averaged 7.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game with Boston — rest in peace.
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