On this day in Boston Celtics history, Hall of Fame forward Dominique Wilkins signed with the Celtics in free agency in 1994. The Human Highlight Film — as Wilkins had come to be called for his frequent, flashy dunks — went on to win a gold medal in the 1994 World Championship of Basketball with the so-called “Dream Team 2” before joining the team later on in the fall.
Wilkins would play but a single season with the Celtics, putting up a very respectable 17.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game in his age-35 season, displaying an exceptionally rare high-level longevity.
After the season was over, Wilkins would head overseas to play for Greek ball club Panathinaikos, with whom he would win a EuroLeague championship.
On the same date in 2003, former Boston point guard Mike James signed as a free agent as well. Previously playing for Miami Heat, the Duquesne alum played 55 games for the Celtics in the 2003-04 season. He would be dealt to the Detroit Pistons in February 2004 as part of a three-team trade to the Atlanta Hawks. James averaged 10.7 points, 3.2 boards, and 4.4 assists per game while with the Celtics.
Former Celtics reserve guard Brad Wanamaker turns a year older today, born in 1989 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. An undrafted product of Pitt, Wanamaker signed with Boston in the summer of 2018 and became a trusted part of the team’s rotation. He played a total of two seasons with the Celtics in which he averaged 5.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
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