Today in Boston Celtics history, Reggie Lewis was born in 1965. Lewis played his NCAA ball at his hometown Northeastern under Hall of Fame New England coaching icon Jim Calhoun (better known for his tenure at the Connecticut) and was picked up with the 22nd overall selection in the 1987 NBA Draft by the Celtics. The former Husky had a decent rookie season with Boston, but an injury to star forward Larry Bird opened up an opportunity for Lewis to play a larger role with the team while the Hick From French Lick healed.
The Maryland native took full advantage of it, scoring 18.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals per game, and just under a block per game that season. It would be good for an All-Star bid in 1992, his sole such honor in his too-short career. Lewis averaged 19.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game for the remainder of his career, which ended in a playoff game in April 1993 after he collapsed on the court. He was diagnosed with a dangerous heart disorder the next day but sought a second opinion given it spelled the end of his career as a professional athlete.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Baltimorean got his second opinion, which graded it a significant (but not potentially fatal) heart disease and began training for the next season. He collapsed and died of heart failure practicing at Brandeis University three months later. Devastated by the death of one of their top young players for the second time in six years, the Celtics retired his jersey, No. 35, to memorialize him -- rest in peace.
Birthdays
Lewis shares his birthday with Celtics champion Cedric Maxwell, born today in Kinston, North Carolina. Maxwell attended UNC-Charlotte to play his college ball and was taken 12th overall by Boston in the 1977 NBA Draft. Maxwell quickly spread his wings with the Celtics, becoming a key part of the rotation by his second season. With the arrival of Indiana State and future Boston legend Larry Bird in the 1979-80 season, the Celtics quickly became contenders again.
BOSTON, MA - CIRCA 1981: Cedric Maxwell #31 of the Boston Celtics goes up to shoot against the Los Angeles Lakers during an NBA basketball game circa 1981 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Maxwell played for the Celtics from 1977-85. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Cedric MaxwellMaxwell won two titles (1981, 1984) with the "original big three" of Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale in the coming years, and a finals MVP in 1981. The North Carolinian was injured in the 1984-85 season and dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers that September for Hall of Fame center Bill Walton, having averaged 13.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and nearly a steal per game over eight seasons with Boston.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Reggie Lewis, Cedric Maxwell born
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