Today in Boston Celtics history, the storied franchise lost a single player to the newly established New Orleans Jazz expansion team (now based in Utah) during the 1974 NBA expansion draft. That player, Steve Kuberski, was a forward the Celtics selected with the 52nd overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft out of Bradley University. Kuberski went on to win two championships with the franchise in 1974 and 1976 during his first of two tenures with Boston over his eight seasons with the team. He was the last player to wear jersey number 33 before Larry Bird joined the team in 1979.
He returned to the Celtics as a free agent in 1975 after being dealt by the Jazz to the Milwaukee Bucks, who cut him. Kuberski played another short stint with the (then) Buffalo Braves (now, Los Angeles Clippers), who also waived him.
The Illinois native logged 5.9 points, 4 rebounds, and 0.6 assists while with the team.
Birthdays
It is also the birthday of Dick Mehen, who came to Boston in a trade via the Baltimore Bullets in 1950. Mehen played just seven games for the Celtics, averaging 6.3 points, 3.7 boards, and 1.6 assists. He was traded that same season to the (then) Fort Wayne (Indiana, now Detroit) Pistons.
It is the birthday of former Celtic center Enes (Kanter) Freedom as well. Born this day in 1992 in Zurich, Switzerland, he signed with Boston in 2019. After a season with the Celtics, Freedom was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers. He returned to Boston for 35 more games in the 2021-22 season before being dealt to the Houston Rockets, and averaged 6.4 points, as many rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game while with the team.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Kuberski lost in 1974 expansion draft; Mehen, Freedom born