Today in Celtics history: Riley, Jones, Beenders born

Hank, warming up #6 for Bill.

Today, June 2nd 2017 is the 101st anniversary of the birth of former Boston Celtic big man Hank Beenders. Hank, who was one of the NBA's first international players back when it was still the Basketball Association of America, played for Boston in the 1948-49 season.

@AminESPN hank beenders ain't walking thru that door #pitinogame

— john (@johngpriest) May 26, 2017

It is also the 42nd birthday of Dontae Jones, a small forward who played for the Celts in the 1997-98 season after being drafted by the New York Knicks, traded to Boston along with Walter McCarty, John Thomas and Scott Brooks (yes, that Scott Brooks, who was waived by Boston before ever playing for them).

Happy Birthday to former Celtic Dontae' Jones!

Here's a nice college dunk on Ray Allen pic.twitter.com/7K2lOYYGiD

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 2, 2017

Finally, it's the 47th birthday of Eric Riley, who was with the Celts in the 1998-99 season, just missing Dontae's tenure with the club. A Michigan alumnus who showed considerable promise until overshadowed by the arrival of the "Fab Five" in his junior year, Riley's career - and all of these three ex-Celts - never really took off. A part of Boston's history they are, however, so today we give a nod to some of the more obscure characters to don the green and white.


                   Had this shot gone in by Riley, his college if not pro career might have been seen in an entirely different light.