Boston Celtic guards Isaiah Thomas, Milt Palacio born

On this day in Boston Celtics history, former Celtics fan favorite floor general Isaiah Jamar Thomas — also known as IT — was born in Tacoma, Washington back in 1989. The native of Tacoma would play NCAA basketball with the University of Washington Huskies. He was picked with the Sacramento Kings’ 60th and final pick in the NBA draft 2011.

IT would spend time with the Phoenix Suns and there before being traded to Boston for Marcus Thornton, draft assets and a significant three-team deal. Thomas was known as the King of the Fourth, a nickname he earned for his late-game scoring prowess. He would quickly become an offensive force in the Celtics’ offense.

Between 2015 and 2017, he would spend three seasons in Boston.

Brad Stevens, the Boston Celtics’ head coach, speaks with Isaiah Thomas #4, during the second period of the NBA match against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center, February 23, 2015. This was in Phoenix, Arizona. The Celtics won the game 115-110. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Thomas would average 24.7 point, 2.7 rebound, 6 assists and a steal per night over the three seasons. This made him two All Star teams during his time with the club.

Boston, who had been injured in the 2017 NBA Playoffs, traded IT to Cleveland Cavaliers in a deal that would have brought point guard Kyrie Irwin to the Celtics.

Boston Celtics’ Milt Palacio (9) attempts to drive around New Jersey Nets’ Johnny Newman during the first quarter Thursday night, Dec. 28, 2000, in East Rutherford, N.J. Palacio stole a Nets’ inbounds pass and hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to beat the Nets 112-111. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

It’s also the birthday Milt Paacio, a former Celtic point guard, was born on this day in Los Angeles in 1978.

Palacio was not drafted from Colorado State. He played a season with the Vancouver Grizzlies, before becoming a free agent for the Celtics in 2000.

Los Angeles Lakers’ Derek Fisher, center, passes through Boston Celtics’ Milt Palacio, left, and Vitaly Potapenko during the first quarter in Los Angeles Tuesday, March 13, 2001. (AP Photo/Michael Caulfield)

He would play only 41 games for Boston, before Randy Brown and Joe Johnson traded him along with draft assets to the Suns. Tony Delk was then swapped for Rodney Rogers.

Palacio was the only Belizean Celtic (and NBA) player to average 5.9 points per game.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[mm-video type=video id=01gqg9tj9mmj1yr5nr6h playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01f5k5xtr64thj7fw2 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gqg9tj9mmj1yr5nr6h/01gqg9tj9mmj1yr5nr6h-a6f8529006faae0786f8b071bf45168c.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=116275,116271,116258,116436,116223,116211]

[listicle id=116260]

[listicle id=116401]

[listicle id=116369]

[listicle id=116356]

Story originally appeared on Celtics Wire

Previous post Carla’s LSD nightmare causes crash
Next post Media Advisory – Government of Canada, Coastal First Nations make progress in protecting a unique marine area off of the Pacific West Coast