​Today in Boston Celtics history, Al Horford joined the team in 2016, marking the beginning of a significant second chapter in Celtics lore. A standout at the University of Florida, where he helped secure back-to-back national championships, Horford was the third pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. He spent nine seasons with Atlanta before electing to sign with the Celtics, entering free agency after the Hawks were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in consecutive postseasons. Horford ultimately chose a four-year, $113 million contract with Boston, a move that would reshape the team’s front line.
In his first stint with the Celtics, Horford helped the team reach the Eastern Conference finals twice. He returned to Boston later, and in 2022 helped the Celtics reach the NBA Finals, a milestone that culminated in a championship in 2024 with Horford on the roster. During his initial tenure with Boston, Horford also earned an All-Star selection and a spot on the All-Defensive Second Team, underscoring his versatility and leadership on both ends of the floor.
This day also marks other notable Celtics moments. It was on January 12, 2009, when four-time All-Star Rasheed Wallace signed with the Celtics, adding more veteran experience and a distinct skill set to the rotation. Wallace, a former UNC standout, contributed in his single season with Boston before retiring from the NBA two years later. He averaged solid numbers, including around 9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, and brought his defensive tenacity to the court during his time with the Celtics.
The history of this date also recalls the loss of Earl Shannon in 2002, a Rhode Island native who played five games for Boston during the 1948-49 season, before moving on to a career that included service as an FBI agent. Shannon’s brief stint with the Celtics is remembered by dedicated fans and historians as part of the team’s long, winding narrative.
Photographs and archival images from the era offer a visual snapshot of the Celtics’ legacy: a roster anchored by Hall of Fame figures at the Boston Garden, with legends such as Tom Heinsohn, Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, and Frank Ramsey highlighted in group shots from the late 1950s and early 1960s. These images, preserved in archives, connect past eras to the modern era of Celtics basketball, illustrating how the franchise has evolved while preserving its core culture of excellence, teamwork, and competitive spirit.
Finally, the calendar notes the passing of Hall of Fame forward Frank Ramsey in 2018. Ramsey, a Kentucky native, spent nine seasons spanning a decade with the Celtics, winning titles in seven of those campaigns and helping to pioneer the role of the sixth man in the early NBA—a testament to his impact on the team and the broader evolution of the game. His legacy, like those of Horford and Wallace on this date, remains a part of Celtics history that fans honor and remember.
This overview compiles a set of historically rich moments that occurred around this date in Celtics history, including player signings, milestones, and the enduring legacy of players who contributed to the franchise’s legacy of success.