Today in Boston Celtics history, Jason Paul Collins was born in Los Angeles, California in 1978. Collins played his college ball with the Stanford University Cardinals, with whom he was feted with NABC Third Team All-American and First Team All-PAC 10 honors in 2001. He was picked up with the 18th overall selection by the Houston Rockets in the 2001 NBA Draft but was immediately dealt with Brandon Armstrong and Richard Jefferson to the (then) New Jersey Nets for Eddie Griffin. Collins played stints with that team, the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Atlanta Hawks before he signed with the Celtics as a free agent in 2012.
The Californian played 32 games with Boston before he was dealt to the Washington Wizards with Leandro Barbosa for Jordan Crawford, having averaged 1.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game with the team. Soon after the season ended, Collins came out as gay, becoming the first athlete in any of North America's four major sports to play as such.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCollins' decision to do so helped to change problematic attitudes toward LGBTQ folk in sports as a result.
Historic milestones
It is also the date of one of the lowest scoring games in NBA history, a 46-44 win over the (now defunct) Pittsburgh Ironmen.
Mar 5, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; The Boston Celtics logo is seen on the court before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Portland Trail Blazers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn ImagesThe game was the Celtics' third-lowest score in franchise history and an opponent's third-lowest scoring game as well.
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Finally, it is also the date that the Celtics waived forward Sly Williams in 1985. An alum of the University of Rhode Island, Williams was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1979 and played for them and the Atlanta Hawks before joining Boston in 1985.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 17: Confetti covers the Boston Celtics logo after Boston's 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)He did not last the year, alas.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Collins born; 3rd-lowest scoring game; Williams cut
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