Today in Celtics history: James Posey's birthday

On today, January 13 1977, former Boston Celtic James Posey was born.

Although he only played one year with the team, his contribution off the bench was key in both the regular season, where he averaged 7.4 points, 4.4 points, a steal and nearly a block per game, and in the playoffs, where he averaged 6.7 points, 3.6 boards, and a steal per game. His performances in Game Two of the 2008 NBA Finals (versus the Los Angeles Lakers), where his and Paul Pierce's free throws in the final 30 seconds of the fourth quarter decided the game for Boston, and his and Eddie House's 29 points off the bench in Game Four (part of the largest comeback in NBA finals history at that time since 1971) were an major part of winning Banner 17.


Posey would opt out of his final year with Boston to test the free agency waters, and ended up pricing himself out of Boston's future as a result. While he would go on to sign with the New Orleans Hornets (this was before the current expansion team in Charlotte reclaimed the name of the original North Carolina franchise), and later the Indiana Pacers after being traded, Posey expressed regret over having moved on.

He currently serves as assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers under former Celtics assistant and now-head coach Tyronne Lue after being hired as an assistant for the Cavs' NBA D-League affiliate, the Canton Charge. In addition to his championship as a player with Boston, Posey joined the rarefied group of former players who have also won a ring as coach. In rememberance of his time with the Celtics, here's a video of that 24-point comeback in game four of the 2008 NBA finals:



For more stories about Celtics history on Celticslife, click here. For more by Justin, click here.






Stats via www.basketball-reference.com
Photo via Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Follow Justin at @justinquinnn
Share