Welcome back to Friday Free Throws, a weekly recap of the most interesting news, notes, and information that have not made the headlines but are still worth a read. In spite of the NBA lockout, there are still plenty of hoops to talk about.
Paul Pierce is picking up where Shaquille ONeal left off.
If you thought the Big Shamrock, Big Leprechaun nicknames left Boston when Shaq retired, think again.
Pierce turned 34 on Thursday and took to Twitter on his special day.
New Nik name for me this year The BiG Three Four, he tweeted.
Pierce also wrote, 34 is my number special thing r gonna happen for me this year . Let's get this lockout ova so I can show ya.
The Celtics captain shares the same birthday as Jermaine ONeal and Doc Rivers (he tweeted a birthday shoutout to them). ONeal turned 33 on October 13 while Rivers turned 50.
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Pierce was one of 12 players born in 1977 playing in the NBA last season (James Posey, Jeff Foster, Vince Carter, Brian Cardinal, Peja Stojakovic, Manu Ginobili, Ime Udoka, Morris Peterson, Nazr Mohammed, Jason Terry, Kenyon Martin).
Rondo a Big Man on Campus
Rajon Rondo is one of several NBA players who has been spending time working out at the University of Kentucky during the NBA lockout. On Media Day, Wildcats head coach John Calipari gushed about the former UK guard. His praise included:
Rondo, by the way, is outstanding. I mean this guy, he is working, and he's, I told him, and I told Nazr (Mohammed) the same thing. When they are done if they want to come back and join this staff and finish up their degrees, they are welcome. They are great young people who want other people around them to get better and they are not afraid to share their knowledge and their experiences.Right now I can't tell you how hard Rondo is working, it's incredible. As this thing comes back, Rondo will have a knock out year, no question in my mind. They are going to look at who the heck is this guy in Boston because of when I'm seeing, how hard he's working.
This month Rondo is featured on the cover of Red Bulls Red Bulletin Magazine. The November issue includes the article, Style Point, and a full-page headshot of Rondo with the caption, "He pulls off his look because the only person he's out to impress is himself." Click here for more on the article.
You Dont Hang Hype in the Rafters
San Francisco Giants pitcher (and New England native) Brian Wilson showed his Celtics Pride for a recent NBA 2K12 promotion, and now hes going head-to-head with music superstar Drake in the latest round of videos. The two debated the greatest NBA team of all time, with Drake arguing in favor of the Miami Heat and Wilson, still in his green garb, defending the Cs. Some of Wilsons talking points? You dont hang hype in the rafters and Bird didn't need to dunk. He laid it up ... like a real man.
Celtics Tweet of the Week
@iambaby11: "Let us play!!!!!!"
Celtics Birthdays of the Week
Kenny Anderson, who played over four seasons with the Celtics, turned 41 on October 9. Former Celtic Bill Walker also turned 24 the 9th. He averged 4.9 points and 2.0 rebounds for the New York Knicks last season. Hall of Famer Arnie Risen was born on the same date in 1924. He played the last three seasons of his career with the C's. ... Kenny Battle, who played for the Celtics in the early 1990's, turned 47 on October 10. ... Paul Pierce, Jermaine ONeal, and head coach Doc Rivers shared a birthday on October 13 (see above)2008 championship team member P.J. Brown, who played the final season of his 15-year career on the Celtics, turned 42 on October 14. Dwayne Schintzius, who played 16 games for the Celtics in the final season of his career, turned 43 on the same date. Ray Williams also celebrated his 57th birthday on the 14th. He played 23 games for the Celtics during the 1984-85 season.
This Week in Celtics History
On October 8, 1996, the Celtics signed Brett Szabo as a free agent. The 6-11 center averaged 2.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in his only season with the Celtics - and in the NBA.On October 13, 2006, the Celtics acquired Luke Jackson in exchange for Dwyane Jones. Jackson was waived less than two weeks later.