Leader: Dennis Schrder (Germany)
At the Celtics: 1 season for 49 games
Record: 28 wins – 21 losses (57.1%)
Stats: 14.4 points 44% on shots, 3.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 29.2 minutes
The half-season passes at the Celtics by Dennis Schrder will not have made an impression, but it remains the best from an international playmaker. His main adversary Carlos Arroyo, also remained a year (and only a few meetings) within the franchise. Schrder went to a team that went to the NBA Finals (without him because he was transferred mid-season). His impact was the one we know for him, between offensive hot shots and total empty passage. The German will not be the international who will have marked Boston’s history the most, unlike other players. Nonetheless, his meteoric rise, statistically speaking, is interesting.
Arrire: Wally Szczerbiak (Espagne)
At the Celtics: 2 seasons for 64 games
Record: 25 wins – 39 losses (39.1%)
Stats: 16.3 points 44.7% on shots (40.4% 3pts), 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists in 32.4 minutes
Wally Szczerbiak, son of player Walter Szczerbiak, former great ABA and Real Madrid player, is of American-Spanish origin. He is also of Ukrainian origin through his grandparents. N Madrid, he spent his college years with the Miami Redhawks. Arrived in the NBA for 22 years as the sixth draft pick, he played for the Timberwolves for a few years alongside Kevin Garnett, of which he is the right arm, before being sent to Boston. It’s the beginning of the end for an emblematic All-Star shooter of the 2000s. He alternates between injuries and presence on the floor with some individual success, but without notorious collective results between 2005 and 2007. He will be sent to the Cavs in the standard transfer bringing back Ray Allen to the C’s. This is his most notable fact at the Celtics that he leaves with honorable statistics.
Ailier : Rick Fox (Canada)
At the Celtics: 6 seasons for 444 games
Record: 187 wins – 257 losses (42.1%)
Stats: 10.7 points 46.3% on shots (35.6% 3pts), 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists in 24.8 minutes
Rick Fox is of Canadian descent. He was drafted 24th in 1991 by Boston after four seasons at the University of North Carolina. The winger obtains an interesting place in a team which wins during these first campaigns. This is the end of the period Larry Bird & Co. Eliminated by Cleveland during his first season, he distinguished himself by his seriousness and his ability to be effective in short sequences. The following year was his last campaign of playoffs with Boston. It’s also the beginning of the galleys for a team that is slowly sinking into the depths of the NBA after years of glory. He exceeded fifteen points per game in 1996-1997, during a 14-win exercise for Boston. Nevertheless, his performances caught the eye of the Lakers with whom he found collective results and a role to his measure: that of an interesting role player in the NBA.
Strong winger: Dino Radja (Croatia)
At the Celtics: 4 seasons for 224 games
Record: 84 wins – 120 losses (37.5%)
Stats: 16.7 points 49.7% on shots, 8.4 rebounds, 1.3 blocks in 32.6 minutes
Dino Radja, the Croatian, first dominated at the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s in Europe and on the international scene before arriving in the USA. The interior, capable of covering positions 4 and 5, won two champion club cups and a Korac Cup before trying his luck in the NBA. Internationally, the player is legendary. He won a silver medal at the Olympic Games in 1988 with Yugoslavia then the same charm in 1992 with Croatia. Initially drafted in 40th position by the C’s in 1989, he only joined them in 1993. His impact in the NBA was real despite Boston’s lack of collective results at that time. Regularly injured, he does not have an NBA career to match his talent. After four seasons, he returned to Europe, tired of his American experience. With Boston, he dominates when he plays. Elected in the NBA All-Rookie Second Teamhe disputes a series of playoffs against the Magic, lost 3-1. This is the most convincing collective result with this team.
Pivot: Al Horford (Dominican Republic)
At the Celtics: 5 seasons for 340 games (in progress)
Record: 224 wins – 116 defeats (65.8%)
Stats: 12.1 points 49% on shots (38.3% 3pts), 7.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 blocks in 30.5 minutes
Following his fine career with the Hawks (9 seasons), the interior from the Dominican Republic arrived at the Celtics in 2016-2017, in the light of the rise of the young shoots, who form the current hard core of Boston, Jayson Tatum et Jaylen Brown. By their side, Al Horford finds its place perfectly in a post 5 role with a particularly developed basketball IQ. Despite his relatively small stature, he is a smart defender, perfectly utilized in the Boston system. He is also from the ill-fated 2022 campaign, which ended in a final loss to the Warriors. He participated in two All Star Games with the C’s (2016 and 2018), proof of his influence in this team. A title would crown the career of the interior. If so, he could see his jersey retired.
Jiri Welsch (Czech Republic)
At the Celtics: 2 seasons for 136 games
Record: 62 wins – 74 losses (45.6%)
Stats: 8.5 points 42.8% on shots (36.1% 3pts), 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists in 24.3 minutes
The Czechoslovak player Jiri Welsch had his best seasons in a Boston team with disappointing collective results between 2003 and 2005. He played a series of playoffs in 2004 with this team, eliminated in the first round in four games by the Pacers. Able to rule out the game thanks to his shooting mechanics, he is a duty player who unfortunately could not last in the NBA, the fault of a lack of confidence granted to him by his coaches. He then made a career in Europe. With his selection, he was the leader of his team throughout the 2000s until his retirement from sport.
Daniel Theis (Germany)
At the Celtics: 5 seasons for 257 games
Record: 160 wins – 97 losses (62.3%)
Stats: 7.3 points 55.8% on shots (34.6% 3pts), 4.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists in 18.8 minutes
After several seasons in Europe (Bamberg in particular where he distinguished himself), Daniel Theis was signed in 2018 by the Celtics in full collective progress. Very quickly, the German finds his place in the collective of Brad Stevens. An essential part of this racquet, it shines with its ability to adapt to positions 4 and 5. Starting or replacing, it plays the game with its ability to score 3 points. The interior shines in this duty player role before leaving Boston in 2020 after four seasons. He returned there last year, a season during which the C’s reached the Finals again. Unfortunately, an injury will kill his campaign.
Vitaly Potapenko (Ukraine)
At the Celtics: 4 seasons for 273 games
Record: 130 wins – 143 defeats (47.6%)
Stats: 7.5 points 48.8% shooting, 5.8 rebounds in 21.9 minutes
Vitaly PotapenkoUkrainian, arrived during the 1998-1999 season at the Celtics, a team led by Paul Pierce this time. The 2m08 inside previously played for the Cavaliers. The interior holds during his first two Boston seasons. Good rebounder and attacker near the correct circle, he finds the bench when the arrival of Mark Blount with whom he shares the minutes on position 5. Blount is a better attacker but a poor defender alongsideAntoine Walker in the racket. A real good basketball player, he left for the Sonics in 2002, when Boston had just delivered its best season with him.
Kelly Olynyk (Canada)
At the Celtics: 4 seasons for 278 games
Record: 138 wins – 140 defeats (49.6%)
Stats: 9.5 points 47.7% on shots, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists in 20.7 minutes
The Canadian was drafted by the Mavs in 11th position before being sent to the C’s in the crowd in 2013. Form Gonzaga, the interior is above all known for his combativeness. In his early years, the collective results are not there in a young Boston team looking to rebuild after the golden years of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen et Kevin Garnett. Not necessarily a good defender, he hangs on. Bench player, he takes rebounds while being able to move away from the circle and shoot 3 points. Very effective off the bench, he is valuable for this team with which he knows the playoffs, especially in 2017, when he reached the Conference Finals, despite the injury ofIsaiah Thomas. He left Boston in 2018 for Miami.
Mentions: Two Frenchies passed by Boston, the eternal hope Jrme Moso draft by the C’s and Mickal Pitrus, author of a few well-clutched three-point bomblets. We also find the only two Egyptians in the NBA: Alaa Abdelnabyauthor of a season more than 8 points and 4 rebounds and the winger Abdel Naderchosen in the second round in 2016. Finally, a mention for the very stylish beard of the Italian Datom’s Teeth. Only 18 games in the Celtics jersey, but a Euroleague title with Fenerbahe.
Episode 1 : Atlanta Hawks
2023-08-02 15:02:07
#Celtics #International #Major
