Boston Celtics jersey history No. 21 - Gary Philips (1961-62)
The Boston Celtics have had players suiting up in a total of 68 different jersey numbers (and have three others not part of any numerical series) since their founding at the dawn of the Basketball Association of America (BAA -- the league that would become today's NBA), worn by well over 500 players in the course of Celtics history.
To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Celtics Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team.
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With 25 of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Celtics to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover.
BOSTON - 1962: The World Champions of basketball Boston Celtics pose for a team portrait seated (L-R): K. C. Jones Gary Phillips, President Walter A. Brown, Head Coach Red Auerbach, Treasurer Lou Pieri, Captain Bob cousy, Sam Jones. Standing Frank Ramsey, Tom Sanders, tom Heinsohn, Bill russell Gene Guarillia, Jim Loscutoff, Carl Brown, Trainer Buddy LeRoux in Boston, Massachusetts in 1962. 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. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright NBAE 2002 (Photo by NBAP/ NBAE/ Getty Images)
And for today's article, we will continue with the sixth of nine people to wear the No. 21, Boston guard alum Gary Phillips. After ending his college career at Houston, Phillips was picked up with the ninth overall selection of the 1961 NBA draft by the Celtics.
The Quincy, Illinois native would play the first season of his pro career with Boston before he was dealt to the (then) San Francisco (now, Golden State) Warriors in 1962.
During his time suiting up for the Celtics, Phillips wore only jersey No. 21 and put up 4.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game.
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics jersey history No. 21 - Gary Philips (1961-62)
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