Today in Boston Celtics history, Fred Saunders signed with the team as a free agent in 1976. He played his college bball for the Syracuse Orangemen, and was picked up in the second round as the 31st overall selection of the 1974 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns.
Known as “Chocolate Thunder” at times for a nickname, Saunders suited up for the Suns for a total of two seasons before signing with the Celtics, where he played for another two seasons. During his tenure with the Celtics, he averaged 5.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1 assist over 13.8 minutes per game.
He was dealt to the New Orleans Jazz for draft assets in 1978. He played 30 games before being waived in his final stop in the NBA.
Transactions
Head coach Bill Fitch resigned on this day in 1983 after four seasons as the team’s head coach. He won an NBA title with Boston in 1981. Being swept by the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals the season prior was likely a factor, as was the sale of the team by owner Harry Mangurian.
Legendary general manager Red Auerbach stepping into a more advisory role was another. “Without Harry being here, and with Red having said he won’t be here for another five years and eat Chinese food with me, a change is good,” said Fitch (via the New York Times).
Historic milestones
In 1985, Celtics small forward Scott Wedman hit four 3-pointers without missing, going 11-for-11 from the floor overall as Boston crushed the Los Angeles Lakers, 148-114, in Game 1 of that year’s NBA Finals. The Celtics’ 148 points and 62 field goals in what has been called the “Memorial Day Massacre” remain NBA Finals records.
It was also on this date that star Boston forward Jaylen Brown was named 2024 Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player. The award came to the Georgia native after his leadership in dispatching the Indiana Pacers as he averaged 29.8 points on 51.9 percent shooting along with 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.
Gone too soon
Finally, today is also the day we lost Hall of Fame Boston big man Bill Walton to cancer in 2024. Walton had won the league’s Most Valuable Player and Finals MVP even before he joined Boston in the trade that sent Cedric Maxwell to the Los Angeles Clippers in 1985, and quickly cemented himself as a Sixth Man for the ages as he helped the Celtics win the 1986 NBA Championship.
Known for his love of the Grateful Dead off the court and his long career as a broadcaster afterward, his loss has left a gap in the league’s culture only such a larger-than-life figure could have filled. Rest in peace.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Fitch quits; Saunders deal; Walton passes