`On this historic day in Boston Celtics’ history, Larry Bird, a rookie destined for the Celtics Hall of Fame, etched his name in the record books by sinking the inaugural 3-point shot in All-Star Game history. This memorable feat occurred during the overtime period of the 1979 All-Star Game at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland.
Affectionately known as “The Hick from French Lick,” Bird executed the clutch shot from the corner, contributing to the Eastern Conference’s 144-136 victory over the West. The significance was heightened as Bird achieved this milestone while facing off against his perennial rival, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, the former Michigan State Spartan and then-Los Angeles Laker.
The Indiana State product’s record-setting three-pointer was part of his impressive overall performance, tallying 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists in the first of his twelve All-Star appearances.
Two companions of Larry Bird, namely point guard Nate Archibald and center Dave Cowens, secured spots on the Eastern Conference roster. However, only Archibald participated in the game as Cowens was sidelined due to injury.
Adding to the Celtics’ presence, the iconic big man Bill Russell graced the event, contributing as one of the three announcers for the game.
On this day, we commemorate the trade that involved sending small forward Theodore “Blue” Edwards to the Utah Jazz in exchange for guard Jay Humphries and draft assets.
Humphries, already an 11-year veteran at that time, had a brief stint with the Celtics, featuring in only six games for the remainder of the season. During his time with the team, he averaged 1.7 points and an equal number of assists per game.On this day, former Boston forward Gerald Green made his debut for the team in a 98-81 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers back in 2006 at TD Banknorth Garden (now known as TD Garden). Unfortunately, Green’s inaugural performance was forgettable, marked by a turnover, a foul, and two missed shots. Fortunately, this lackluster debut did not foretell his subsequent successful career.
