Kevin McHale Biography
NBA Throwbacks Collection - Boston Celtics
When Boston selected the awkward looking Kevin McHale third in the 1980 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics didn't have a spot for him in their starting lineup. The team's frontcourt of Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Cedric Maxwell was already a force in the league and Celtic coach Bill Fitch made it clear from the start that Kevin McHale would be coming in off the bench. The days of college basketball stardom were over. He would be the team's sixth man.Being first man off the bench was by no means an easy assignment. Kevin McHale would have to enter games cold and produce right away, injecting offensive or defensive punch when the team needed it the most. By accepting his new role, Kevin McHale joined an illustrious lineage of Celtic subs that began with Frank Ramsey in the late 1950s and passed through the likes of John Havlicek and Paul Silas. Clearly, being the Celtics sixth man meant living up to high expectations.
McHale did that and more. Over his first five seasons, he became the finest bench player in the NBA, raising his scoring average from 10 points per game as a rookie to 19.8 in his fifth season. By 1985, McHale was contributing to the offense like a starter, and his low post game was quickly becoming one of the best in the NBA. Instead of feeling relieved that a starter was leaving the floor, opposing teams shuddered the sight of Kevin McHale ripping off his sweats to enter the basketball game. They had good reason. His play off the bench helpt the Boston Celtics to NBA titles in 1980 and 1984.
With the trade of Cedric Maxwell, McHale became a starter in 1985. For his final eight NBA seasons, he was among the premier forwards in the league. Still, McHale never lost his reputation as the Boston Celtics' sixth man. It's easy to see why. He was one of the best ever in the NBA.
Kevin McHale Timeline Biography
- Born: Dec. 19, 1957
- Age 12: Loves hockey more than basketball. Cheers for the Boston Bruins
- Age 13: Began to consider basketball as possible future. Already 5'9" tall.
- Age 17: Reaches state final with Hibbing High School basketball team, which has seven players over 6'5". Accepts scholarship to University of Minnesota (Golden Gophers)
- Age 22: Leads Minnesota Golden Gophers to NIT finals. Plays on gold medal teams of Pan-Am Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico and World University Games in Mexico City.
- Age 23: Selected third overall by the Boston Celtics
- 1981 : McHaled named to NBAA All Rookie Basketball team.
- 1984 : Wins second NBA championship with Celtics and first Sixth Man Award
- 1988 : Leads NBA in field goal percentage for second straight year.
- 1990 : Finishes in top 10 i field goal and free throw percentage
Kevin McHale Boston Celtics Jersey - NBA Throwbacks Collection
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