On this day in Boston Celtics history, champion small forward Willie Naulls was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1934. A graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, where he played for Hall of Fame coaching legend John Wooden, Naulls was selected with the ninth pick of the 1956 NBA draft by the (then) St. Louis (now, Atlanta) Hawks.
He played 19 games with that organization before being traded to the New York Knicks early in his rookie year. Naulls spent the bulk of his career with the Knicks, who named him the first Black team captain in league history.
Buy Celtics TicketsIt wasn’t the last trade of his career of course, or you would not be reading about him on this site.
Willie Naulls (1934-2018) A 6-6 PF/C, Naulls was a 4-time NBA All-Star w/ the @nyknicks & member of 3 @celtics title teams (1964-66). Naulls (#12) along with Satch Sanders, Sam Jones, K.C. Jones and Bill Russell comprised the NBA's first all-black starting lineup (12/26/64). pic.twitter.com/MsHuwlEcy0
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) November 26, 2018
In December of 1962, Naulls was dealt to the San Francisco (now Golden State) Warriors, who dealt him to Boston the following September.
The Texan wing finished his career as a Celtic, earning three titles with the team between 1964 and 1966.
In December of 1964, Tom "Satch" Sanders, Sam Jones, K.C. Jones, @RealBillRussell and Willie Naulls became the first all-black starting five in NBA history. https://t.co/xKF6TiPHJC
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 21, 2018
He was part of the first all-Black starting lineup in 1964 with Bill Russell, Sam and K.C. Jones (no relation), and Satch Sanders.
Naulls averaged 10.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game as a Celtic, retiring from the sport in 1966.
Jimmy Oliver (Guard for several teams including the Boston Celtics and signed in 14 days #TTM #TTMsuccess #autographs #collect pic.twitter.com/jvWOXQiU5f
— Mark's Signing Bonus (@signing_s) February 25, 2021
It is also the date the Celtics signed shooting guard Jimmy Oliver as an unrestricted free agent in 1993.
A former Purdue Boilermaker, Oliver was selected 39th in the 1991 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Who remembers the sweet shooting Jimmy Oliver?! #Celtics pic.twitter.com/pSqTRUyYYr
— Frosty Bias ☘️ (@FrostyBias) October 14, 2018
Released by that team after his rookie season, Oliver bounced around in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA — the equivalent of the G League today) before joining Boston, with which he played 44 games in the 1993-94 season.
He averaged 4.9 points and a rebound per game as a Celtic.
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