Boston Celtics jersey history No. 21 - Bill Sharman (1951-61)
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.
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.
And for today's article, we will continue with the fifth of nine people to wear the No. 21, Hall of Fame Boston guard alum Bill Sharman. After ending his college career at USC, Sharman was picked up with the 17th overall selection of the 1950 NBA draft by the (defunct) Washington Capitols.
The Abilene, Texas native would play the first season of his pro career with the Caps, coming to an end when he was dealt to the Celtics by way of the (then) Fort Wayne (now, Detroit) Pistons after Washington's dispersal draft when that team went under.
His stay with the team would span the other 10 seasons of his 11-year NBA career, winning four titles with Boston among many accolades before retiring in 1961.
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
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