​Today in Boston Celtics history we recall 2017, when Hall of Fame small forward Paul Pierce signed a one-day contract to return to the Celtics, enabling him to retire as a member of the franchise where he spent 15 seasons before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013. After his time with the Nets, Pierce had stints with the Washington Wizards and the Los Angeles Clippers before making a symbolic return to the team that drafted him with the 10th overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, following his collegiate career at Kansas. During his Boston tenure, Pierce collected a wealth of honors, highlighted by an NBA championship in 2008 and Finals MVP recognition, 10 All-Star selections, four All-NBA nods, and a spot on the All-Rookie First Team in 1999, among numerous other accolades. He averaged 21.8 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game with the Celtics.
In Boston, February 5, 2017, found Paul Pierce, wearing #34, speaking with the media after the Clippers’ game against the Celtics at TD Garden. This moment sits within the broader tapestry of Celtics history, where the franchise’s story intertwines on and off the court with many notable players and personalities. It is also a day tied to historical roster movements, such as former Celtics point guard J.R. Bremer signing with the team as an undrafted free agent out of St. Bonaventure in 2002. Bremer later reflected on the added pressure that comes with finally securing a stable position, while still needing to make the squad through training camp. He ultimately signed a two-year deal for just over $900,000 but was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 for Jumaine Jones, along with Bruno Sundov and other draft assets. During his Celtics tenure, Bremer contributed 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.
Today’s history also marks the birthday of Eric Williams, the Providence College alumnus who entered the NBA as the 14th pick in the 1995 draft. Born in 1972 in Newark, New Jersey, Williams had two separate stints with Boston, totaling seven seasons on the Celtics. Williams is pictured defending during a 2003 game at the Fleet Center, a reminder of the era in which he played and the legacy he left with the franchise. The day also coincides with the birthday of former Celtics forward Calbert Cheaney, born in 1971 in Evansville, Indiana, who spent a season with Boston in 1999-2000 after a distinguished college career. Cheaney’s brief Celtics stop adds another layer to the rich tapestry of players who wore Celtics green over the years.
As a reminder, this day’s events weave together multiple strands of Celtics history—from Pierce’s ceremonial return and celebrated accomplishments to the career trajectories of Bremer, Williams, and Cheaney—demonstrating how the franchise’s legacy is built not only on championships and All-Star appearances, but also on the journeys of players who contributed to Boston’s ongoing basketball narrative. The result is a textured, multi-decade story that continues to shape how fans remember the Celtics and their enduring impact on the NBA.