Today in Boston Celtics history, James Young was born in Flint, Michigan, in 1995. He played collegiate basketball for the University of Kentucky Wildcats, earning Second Team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2014. Not long after, the Boston Celtics selected him with the 17th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
The Flint native struggled 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 played 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.
Transactions
It is also the anniversary of former Tom Gugliotta signing with Boston in 2004. It was 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.
Gone too soon
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.
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 alum 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.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Today in Boston Celtics history: Young born; Gugliotta signs; Barros, Fortson traded