1993–94 Boston Celtics season

1993–94 Boston Celtics season
Head coachChris Ford
General managerM.L. Carr
ArenaBoston Garden
Hartford Civic Center
Results
Record32–50 (.390)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Atlantic)
Conference: 10th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWSBK-TV
WBZ-TV
SportsChannel New England
RadioWEEI
< 1992–93 1994–95 >

The 1993–94 NBA season was the 48th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association.[1] Tragedy struck the team prior to the season when star guard, and team captain Reggie Lewis died of cardiac arrest during practice at the age of 27 on July 27, 1993; Lewis previously collapsed during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Charlotte Hornets in the 1993 NBA Playoffs.[2][3][4][5][6] Croatian rookie forward Dino Radja, who was drafted by the Celtics in the 1989 NBA draft, would finally make his debut in the NBA.[7][8]

The Celtics started strong with a 6–2 start to the season, and then played mostly mediocre basketball the rest of the season, hovering at around .500 until right before Christmas when they went on a 7-game losing streak. The Celtics had a 7-game winning streak in January, and held a 20–27 record at the All-Star break,[9] but also had a winless month in February, where they suffered a 13-game losing streak which they never recovered from,[10][11] as they finished fifth in the Atlantic Division with a disappointing 32–50 record.[12]

This season marked the first since 1978–79 that the Celtics failed to qualify for the NBA Playoffs (a streak of 14 seasons).[13][14] The absence of Lewis, and the retirements over the previous two seasons of Larry Bird and Kevin McHale contributed to the poor season. Dee Brown led the team with 15.5 points and 2.0 steals per game, while Radja averaged 15.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and Sherman Douglas provided the team with 13.3 points and 8.8 assists per game. In addition, long-time Celtics center Robert Parish averaged 11.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, while Kevin Gamble provided with 11.5 points per game, and Rick Fox contributed 10.8 points per game.[15]

Following the season, Parish signed as a free agent with the Charlotte Hornets,[16][17][18][19] while Gamble signed with the Miami Heat,[20][21][22] and Ed Pinckney was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.[23][24]

Draft picks

Main article: 1993 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 19 Acie Earl C  United States Iowa

Roster

1993–94 Boston Celtics roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
C 4 Abdelnaby, Alaa 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1968–06–24 Duke
G 7 Brown, Dee 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1968–11–29 Jacksonville
G 12 Corchiani, Chris 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1968–03–28 NC State
G 20 Douglas, Sherman 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966–09–15 Syracuse
C 55 Earl, Acie 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1970–06–23 Iowa
F 44 Fox, Rick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1969–07–24 North Carolina
F 34 Gamble, Kevin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1965–11–13 Iowa
G 43 Harris, Tony 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1967–05–13 New Orleans
G 30 Lichti, Todd 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1967–01–08 Stanford
F 31 McDaniel, Xavier 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1963–06–03 Wichita State
G 27 Oliver, Jimmy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1969–07–12 Purdue
C 00 Parish, Robert 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1953–08–30 Centenary
F 54 Pinckney, Ed 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1963–03–27 Villanova
F 40 Radja, Dino 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1967–04–24 Croatia
C 50 Wenstrom, Matt 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1970–11–04 North Carolina
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-New York Knicks 57 25 .695 — 32–9 25–16 18–10
x-Orlando Magic 50 32 .610 7 31–10 19–22 20–8
x-New Jersey Nets 45 37 .549 12 29–12 16–25 17–11
x-Miami Heat 42 40 .512 15 22–19 20–21 16–12
Boston Celtics 32 50 .390 25 18–23 14–27 12–16
Philadelphia 76ers 25 57 .305 32 15–26 10–31 7–21
Washington Bullets 24 58 .293 33 17–24 7–34 8–20
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Atlanta Hawks 57 25 .695 –
2 y-New York Knicks 57 25 .695 –
3 x-Chicago Bulls 55 27 .671 2
4 x-Orlando Magic 50 32 .610 7
5 x-Indiana Pacers 47 35 .573 10
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 47 35 .573 10
7 x-New Jersey Nets 45 37 .549 12
8 x-Miami Heat 42 40 .512 15
9 Charlotte Hornets 41 41 .500 16
10 Boston Celtics 32 50 .390 25
11 Philadelphia 76ers 25 57 .305 32
12 Washington Bullets 24 58 .293 33
13t Milwaukee Bucks 20 62 .244 37
13t Detroit Pistons 20 62 .244 37

Record vs. opponents

1993-94 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta – 4–0 4–1 2–3 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 0–2 1–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 5–0 2–0 1–3 2–2 3–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0
Boston 0–4 – 0–4 2–2 1–3 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–1 1–1 1–4 0–4 2–2 4–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–2
Charlotte 1–4 4–0 – 1–4 1–4 1–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 3–2 2–0 2–2 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2
Chicago 3–2 2–2 4–1 – 1–3 2–0 1–1 5–0 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0
Cleveland 1–3 3–1 4–1 3–1 – 2–0 1–1 3–2 2–0 0–2 2–3 2–0 1–1 1–3 3–2 2–0 2–2 0–4 2–2 4–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1
Dallas 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 – 1–4 1–1 0–4 1–4 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 0–2 5–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 2–2 0–5 0–4 0–5 1–1
Denver 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1 – 2–0 1–3 3–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 4–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–4 2–2 1–4 1–1
Detroit 0–4 1–3 0–4 0–5 2–3 1–1 0–2 – 0–2 0–2 1–4 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–4 2–0 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–2
Golden State 2–0 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 4–0 3–1 2–0 – 0–4 1–1 4–1 5–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–2 4–1 2–2 1–4 3–1 2–0
Houston 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–1 2–3 2–0 4–0 – 1–1 4–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 4–0 4–0 2–3 2–2 3–3 1–1
Indiana 2–3 4–0 2–2 1–4 3–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 1–1 1–1 – 2–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 2–0 3–1 0–4 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1
L.A. Clippers 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–0 1–3 1–1 1–4 0–4 0–2 – 2–3 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–5 2–3 3–2 1–3 1–4 1–3 1–1
L.A. Lakers 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–0 1–3 2–0 0–5 1–3 2–0 3–2 – 1–1 2–0 3–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 3–2 0–5 1–4 0–4 0–5 2–2 1–1
Miami 1–3 3–2 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 – 4–0 2–0 2–3 2–2 2–3 4–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1
Milwaukee 0–5 1–3 2–3 0–4 2–3 2–0 0–2 4–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–4 – 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–3
Minnesota 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–5 1–4 0–2 2–2 1–4 0–2 3–1 1–3 0–2 2–0 – 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–4 0–4 1–4 0–2
New Jersey 3–1 4–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 3–2 3–1 1–1 – 4–1 0–5 3–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1
New York 2–2 4–0 1–3 3–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 0–2 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 4–0 2–0 1–4 – 3–2 3–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 5–0
Orlando 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 3–2 3–1 1–1 5–0 2–3 – 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–1
Philadelphia 0–4 1–4 1–3 1–3 0–4 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–4 3–1 0–2 1–3 2–3 0–4 – 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–3
Phoenix 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 1–1 3–2 2–2 1–1 5–0 2–3 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 – 3–2 4–1 3–1 2–3 2–2 2–0
Portland 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–3 0–4 1–1 3–2 5–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 2–3 – 4–1 1–3 1–4 1–3 2–0
Sacramento 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–4 0–4 0–2 2–3 4–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–4 1–4 – 1–3 0–5 1–3 2–0
San Antonio 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 5–0 4–2 1–1 2–2 3–2 2–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 4–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 3–1 3–1 – 0–4 0–5 2–0
Seattle 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–1 4–1 2–2 1–1 4–1 5–0 1–1 2–0 4–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–2 4–1 5–0 4–0 – 3–1 2–0
Utah 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 5–0 4–1 2–0 1–3 3–3 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 2–0 4–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 5–0 1–3 – 2–0
Washington 0–4 2–3 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–3 3–1 2–0 1–3 0–5 1–4 3–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 —

Game log

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season

Boston Celtics statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Alaa Abdelnaby 13 0 12.2 .436 .640 3.5 .2 .2 .2 4.9
Dee Brown 77 76 37.2 .480 .313 .831 3.9 4.5 2.0 .6 15.5
Chris Corchiani 51 0 9.2 .426 .289 .684 .9 1.7 .4 .0 2.3
Sherman Douglas 78 78 35.8 .462 .232 .641 2.5 8.8 1.1 .1 13.3
Acie Earl 74 8 15.5 .406 .000 .675 3.3 .2 .3 .7 5.5
Rick Fox 82 53 25.6 .467 .330 .757 4.3 2.6 1.0 .6 10.8
Kevin Gamble 75 28 25.1 .458 .243 .817 2.1 2.0 .8 .3 11.5
Tony Harris 5 0 17.6 .290 .333 .920 2.0 1.6 .8 .0 8.8
Todd Lichti† 4 0 12.0 .429 .500 2.0 1.5 1.3 .3 4.8
Xavier McDaniel 82 5 24.0 .461 .244 .676 4.9 1.5 .6 .5 11.3
Jimmy Oliver 44 6 12.3 .416 .406 .758 1.0 .8 .4 .0 4.9
Robert Parish 74 74 26.9 .491 .740 7.3 1.1 .6 1.3 11.7
Ed Pinckney 76 35 20.1 .522 .736 6.3 .8 .8 .6 5.2
Dino Rađa 80 47 28.8 .521 .000 .751 7.2 1.4 .9 .8 15.1
Matt Wenstrom 11 0 3.4 .600 .600 1.1 .0 .0 .2 1.6
  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Celtics only.

Awards and records

Transactions

Additions

Player Signed Former Team
Jimmy Oliver Pescanova Ferrol
Chris Corchiani

References

  1. ^ 1993-94 Boston Celtics
  2. ^ Thomas Jr., Robert McG. (July 28, 1993). "PRO BASKETBALL; Celtics' Lewis Dies After Collapsing in a Gym". The New York Times. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  3. ^ Almond, Elliott (July 28, 1993). "Celtics' Lewis Collapses on Court, Dies: Pro Basketball: Boston's Leading Scorer Had Been Warned of Possible Danger Because of Heart Condition". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  4. ^ Nakamura, David (July 28, 1993). "Celtics' Lewis Dies After Collapsing". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  5. ^ Kent, Milton (July 28, 1993). "Celtics' Reggie Lewis Collapses, Dies; Dunbar Graduate Collapses 2nd Time in Three Months". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  6. ^ Greenberg, Alan (July 28, 1993). "After Sudden Collapse, an End to a Young Life". Hartford Courant. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  7. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Celtics Complete Radja Deal". The New York Times. July 10, 1993. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  8. ^ Arace, Michael (November 2, 1993). "Celtics' Radja Proving He Belongs". Hartford Courant. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  9. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 10, 1994". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  10. ^ "NBA ROUNDUP: Home No Help for Celtics". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. March 3, 1994. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  11. ^ "Cavs Deal Celtics 13th Straight Loss". The Oklahoman. March 3, 1994. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  12. ^ "1993–94 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  13. ^ Arace, Michael (July 24, 1994). "Instantly, the Celtics Are Credible". Hartford Courant. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  14. ^ "Boston Celtics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  15. ^ "1993–94 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  16. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Parish Signs Multiyear Deal with Hornets". The New York Times. August 5, 1994. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  17. ^ "Parish Joins Hornets as Mourning's Backup". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. August 5, 1994. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  18. ^ Smith, Sam (August 5, 1994). "Parish Signs Deal with Hornets; Brickowski Bullish on Chicago?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  19. ^ "Parish Signs Deal with Charlotte". Deseret News. Associated Press. August 5, 1994. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  20. ^ Winderman, Ira (October 8, 1994). "New Motivation in Heat's Camp". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  21. ^ Patton, Robes (October 28, 1994). "Loughery Keeps Looking for the Right Combination". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  22. ^ "Eastern Conference". The Washington Post. November 4, 1994. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  23. ^ Heisler, Mark (June 30, 1994). "NBA DRAFT: Blockbuster Trade That Wasn't Overshadows Player Selections". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  24. ^ "Bucks Trade Edwards to Celtics". United Press International. June 30, 1994. Retrieved January 19, 2022.

See also