1992–93 Boston Celtics season

NBA basketball team season August 2023 March 2026 Boston Celtics 1993 48 34 Atlantic 2 4 Chris Ford Boston GardenHartford Civic Center Dave Gavitt First round(lost to Hornets 1–3) BOS WFXTSportsChannel New England WEEI The 1992–93 Boston Celtics season was the 47th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. Boston Celtics Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/ August 6, 2026 This marked the first season since the 1978–79 season that Hall of Fame player Larry Bird was not on the team; this was also the final season for long-time Celtics All-Star forward Kevin McHale, as he would retire the following off-season. Associated Press McHale Makes Retirement Official After Hornets Eliminate Celtics Los Angeles Times May 6, 1993 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-05-06-sp-31972-story.html September 25, 2022 MacMullan Jackie For Celtics' McHale, Retirement Proves to Be Painful Decision The Baltimore Sun May 6, 1993 https://www.baltimoresun.com/1993/05/06/for-celtics-mchale-retirement-proves-to-be-painful-decision/ April 20, 2023 Moran Malcolm Pro Basketball: McHale Looks Back and It's Funny The New York Times May 7, 1993 https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/07/sports/pro-basketball-mchale-looks-back-and-it-s-funny.html December 31, 2021 Season summary Off-season During the off-season, the Celtics signed free agent and former All-Star forward Xavier McDaniel. Araton Harvey Basketball: Knicks Lose McDaniel to the Celtics The New York Times September 11, 1992 https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/11/sports/basketball-knicks-lose-mcdaniel-to-the-celtics.html July 24, 2022 Arace Michael McDaniel Signs with Celtics Hartford Courant September 11, 1992 https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1992-09-11-0000112613-story.html November 2, 2016 Bunn Curtis G. Celtic-Pride Talk Convincing to McDaniel Los Angeles Times September 13, 1992 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-09-13-sp-1337-story.html September 25, 2022 Regular season In December, the Celtics traded rookie shooting guard, and first-round draft pick Jon Barry out of Georgia Tech University to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Alaa Abdelnaby, Sports People: Pro Basketball: Celtics Trade Barry and Obtain Abdelnaby The New York Times December 5, 1992 https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/05/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-celtics-trade-barry-and-obtain-abdelnaby.html February 8, 2023 United Press International Bucks Deal Abdelnaby for Barry Deseret News December 5, 1992 https://www.deseret.com/1992/12/5/19019760/bucks-deal-abdelnaby-for-barry February 8, 2023 Arace Michael A Workable Trade for Abdelnaby, Barry Hartford Courant December 5, 1992 https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1992-12-05-0000108944-story.html February 8, 2023 and also re-signed free agent John Bagley; Bagley played for the team the previous season, but was not re-signed during the off-season. Celtics Re-Sign Bagley Deseret News December 24, 1992 https://www.deseret.com/1992/12/24/19023348/celtics-re-sign-bagley/ May 14, 2024 Ledger Wire Services Celtics Re-Sign Bagley to Spark Hurting Offense Lakeland Ledger December 24, 1992 4D https://books.google.com/books?id=VEtIAAAAIBAJ&dq=1992+Boston+Celtics+re-signed+John+Bagley&pg=PA20&article_id=6703,1062136 May 14, 2024 Despite the addition of McDaniel, the Celtics got off to a bad start by losing eight of their first ten games of the regular season, as Ed Pinckney only played just seven games due to a knee injury. Sports People: Basketball: Pinckney Out for Two Months or More The New York Times November 21, 1992 https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/21/sports/sports-people-basketball-pinckney-out-for-two-months-or-more.html November 10, 2022 Moran Malcolm Pro Basketball: Potholes on Parquet; Celtics Search for Blueprint of Bright Future The New York Times May 9, 1993 https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/09/sports/pro-basketball-potholes-on-parquet-celtics-search-for-blueprint-of-bright-future.html December 31, 2021 However, the team recovered by posting a seven-game winning streak in January, and later on held a 26–24 record at the All-Star break. NBA Games Played on February 18, 1993 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/?month=2&day=18&year=1993 July 24, 2022 The Celtics posted a nine-game winning streak in March, and won six of their final seven games of the season, finishing in second place in the Atlantic Division with a solid 48–34 record, and earning the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference; 1992–93 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1993_games.html June 22, 2021 the team qualified for the NBA playoffs for the 14th consecutive year. Reggie Lewis led the Celtics in scoring averaging 20.8 points, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game, while McDaniel averaged 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, and Kevin Gamble provided the team with 13.3 points per game. In addition, Robert Parish averaged 12.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, while Dee Brown contributed 10.9 points, 5.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and McHale provided with 10.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game off the bench, but shot a career-low of .459 in field-goal percentage. Meanwhile, Abdelnaby averaged 8.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in 63 games after the trade, Sherman Douglas contributed 7.8 points and 6.4 assists per game, second-year forward Rick Fox contributed 6.4 points per game, Pinckney averaged 4.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game during his short seven-game stint, and Joe Kleine provided with 3.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. 1992–93 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1993.html June 22, 2021 However, McHale briefly feuded with head coach Chris Ford near the end of the regular season over his lack of playing time, which did not help with causing distractions and lack of focus for the Celtics. McHale Doesn't Like View Tampa Bay Times April 13, 1993 https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1993/04/13/mchale-doesn-t-like-view/ November 10, 2022 Greenberg Alan It's Never Been McHale's Place to Cause Stir Hartford Courant April 16, 1993 https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1993-04-16-0000103269-story.html January 19, 2022 Abdelnaby finished tied in eleventh place in Most Improved Player voting, 1992–93 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1993.html May 15, 2025 while Ford finished in seventh place in Coach of the Year voting. Coach of Year: NBA Honors Riley as League's Finest Deseret News May 18, 1993 https://www.deseret.com/1993/5/18/19047558/coach-of-year-nba-honors-riley-as-league-s-finest May 23, 2023 The Celtics finished 18th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 608,495 at the Boston Garden during the regular season. 1992–93 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1993.html February 14, 2026 NBA playoffs In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1993 NBA playoffs, the Celtics faced off against the 5th–seeded Charlotte Hornets, who were led by the trio of All-Star forward Larry Johnson, rookie center Alonzo Mourning, and Muggsy Bogues. However, during Game 1 at the Boston Garden, Lewis collapsed on the court; Arace Michael Celtics Win, But Lewis Leaves Game Hartford Courant April 30, 1993 https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1993-04-30-0000102674-story.html July 23, 2022 Associated Press Pro Basketball: Celtics' Lewis Out of Playoffs The New York Times May 3, 1993 https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/03/sports/pro-basketball-celtics-lewis-out-of-playoffs.html July 26, 2021 Associated Press Lewis' Ailment Could Be Life-Threatening: Heart Problem; Celtics' Top Scorer Will Probably Have to Give Up NBA, Team Doctor Says Los Angeles Times May 4, 1993 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-05-04-sp-31224-story.html April 5, 2023 Lewis scored 17 points in 13 minutes as the Celtics defeated the Hornets at home, 112–101. 1993 NBA Eastern Conference First Round Game 1: Charlotte Hornets at Boston Celtics Box Score, April 29, 1993 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199304290BOS.html June 22, 2026 However, without Lewis for the remainder of the series, the Celtics lost the next three games, which included a Game 4 loss to the Hornets on the road, 104–103 at the Charlotte Coliseum, as Mourning hit a game-winning buzzer-beater; the Celtics lost the series to the Hornets in four games. Moran Malcolm Pro Basketball: Hornets Oust Celtics in Down-to-Wire Style The New York Times May 6, 1993 https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/06/sports/pro-basketball-hornets-oust-celtics-in-down-to-wire-style.html October 11, 2017 Associated Press NBA Roundup: Mourning's Late Shot Sinks Celtics Los Angeles Times May 6, 1993 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-05-06-sp-31760-story.html December 4, 2022 1993 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Hornets vs. Celtics Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1993-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-hornets-vs-celtics.html February 7, 2023 Aftermath Game 1 of the Celtics-Hornets series would also be the final game for Lewis, as he would die of cardiac arrest during practice three months later at the age of 27, before the following season began. Thomas Jr. Robert McG. Pro Basketball: Celtics' Lewis Dies After Collapsing in a Gym The New York Times July 28, 1993 https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/28/sports/pro-basketball-celtics-lewis-dies-after-collapsing-in-a-gym.html January 15, 2022 Almond Elliott 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 July 28, 1993 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-07-28-sp-17785-story.html October 16, 2022 Nakamura David Celtics' Lewis Dies After Collapsing The Washington Post July 28, 1993 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1993/07/28/celtics-lewis-dies-after-collapsing/46a8c775-b2ba-4baf-891b-7ffd590fe853/ December 4, 2022 Following the season, Kleine signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns, Sports People: Basketball: Kleine and Suns Agree to Contract The New York Times August 14, 1993 https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/14/sports/sports-people-basketball-kleine-and-suns-agree-to-contract.html December 4, 2022 Wang Gene 1993-94 NBA Previews The Washington Post November 4, 1993 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1993/11/04/1993-94-nba-previews/92891e16-ab87-4c68-b8f0-57db28fca76b/ February 8, 2023 and Bagley signed with the Atlanta Hawks during the next season. Transactions The New York Times December 14, 1993 https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/14/sports/transactions-573393.html September 25, 2022 Celtics Blow Lead, Not Game Wilmington Morning Star December 14, 1993 2C https://books.google.com/books?id=0bkyAAAAIBAJ&dq=1993+Atlanta+Hawks+signed+John+Bagley&pg=PA74&article_id=4313,6016985 May 14, 2024 Draft picks 1992 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 21 Jon Barry (traded to Milwaukee) SG United States Georgia Tech 2 47 Darren Morningstar C United States Pittsburgh Roster Boston Celtics 1992–93 #00703C white #C5B358 #000000 4 Alaa Abdelnaby PF 6 10 240 1968–06–24 Duke 5 John Bagley basketball PG 6 0 185 1960–04–23 Boston College 7 Dee Brown basketball, born 1968 PG 6 1 160 1968–11–29 Jacksonville 20 Sherman Douglas PG 6 0 160 1966–09–15 Syracuse 44 Rick Fox SF 6 7 230 1969–07–24 North Carolina 34 Kevin Gamble SF 6 5 210 1965–11–13 Iowa 53 Joe Kleine C 6 11 255 1962–01–04 Arkansas 35 Reggie Lewis SG 6 7 195 1965–11–21 Northeastern 31 Xavier McDaniel SF 6 7 205 1963–06–04 Wichita State 32 Kevin McHale basketball PF 6 10 210 1957–12–19 Minnesota 00 Robert Parish C 7 1 230 1953–08–30 Centenary College of Louisiana 54 Ed Pinckney PF 6 9 195 1963–03–27 Villanova 43 Lorenzo Williams basketball, born 1969 F 6 9 200 1969–07–15 Stetson Chris Ford Don Casey Jon Jennings Ed Lacerte (trainer) https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1993.html March 17, 1993 Regular season Season standings BOS y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot BOS z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot Playoffs Boston Celtics 1993 yes #006400 #FFFFFF Boston Celtics #008040 white First round yes yes no 1 1 0 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | April 29 | Charlotte | W 112–101 | Xavier McDaniel (21) | Douglas, Parish (9) | Sherman Douglas (11) | Boston Garden14,890 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | May 1 | Charlotte | L 98–99 (2OT) | Kevin McHale (30) | Robert Parish (16) | Sherman Douglas (10) | Boston Garden14,890 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | May 3 | @ Charlotte | L 89–119 | Kevin Gamble (19) | Alaa Abdelnaby (6) | Sherman Douglas (8) | Charlotte Coliseum23,698 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | May 5 | @ Charlotte | L 103–104 | Robert Parish (24) | Robert Parish (9) | Sherman Douglas (9) | Charlotte Coliseum23,698 | 1–3 |- BOS yes 1993 Player statistics Regular season Boston Celtics |- | style="text-align:left;"|Alaa Abdelnaby† | 63 || 52 || 18.3 || .525 || || .760 || 4.8 || .3 || .3 || .3 || 8.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"|John Bagley basketball | 10 || 0 || 9.7 || .360 || .000 || .833 || .7 || 2.0 || .2 || .0 || 2.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Kenny Battle | 3 || 1 || 9.7 || .462 || .000 || 1.000 || 3.7 || .7 || .3 || .0 || 4.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Dee Brown basketball, born 1968 | 80 || 48 || 28.2 || .468 || .317 || .793 || 3.1 || 5.8 || 1.7 || .4 || 10.9 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Sherman Douglas | 79 || 36 || 24.5 || .498 || .207 || .560 || 2.1 || 6.4 || .6 || .1 || 7.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Rick Fox | 71 || 14 || 15.2 || .484 || .174 || .802 || 2.2 || 1.6 || .9 || .3 || 6.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Kevin Gamble | 82 || 58 || 31.0 || .507 || .374 || .826 || 3.0 || 2.8 || 1.0 || .5 || 13.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Joe Kleine | 78 || 3 || 14.5 || .404 || .000 || .707 || 4.4 || .5 || .2 || .2 || 3.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Bart Kofoed | 7 || 0 || 5.9 || .231 || .000 || .786 || .1 || 1.4 || .3 || .1 || 2.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Reggie Lewis | 80 || 80 || 39.3 || .470 || .233 || .867 || 4.3 || 3.7 || 1.5 || 1.0 || 20.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Xavier McDaniel | 82 || 27 || 27.0 || .495 || .273 || .793 || 6.0 || 2.0 || .9 || .6 || 13.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Kevin McHale basketball | 71 || 0 || 23.3 || .459 || .111 || .841 || 5.0 || 1.0 || .2 || .8 || 10.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Robert Parish | 79 || 79 || 27.2 || .535 || || .689 || 9.4 || .8 || .7 || 1.4 || 12.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Ed Pinckney | 7 || 5 || 21.6 || .417 || || .923 || 6.1 || .1 || .6 || 1.0 || 4.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Marcus Webb | 9 || 0 || 5.7 || .520 || .000 || .619 || 1.1 || .2 || .1 || .2 || 4.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Lorenzo Williams basketball, born 1969† | 22 || 7 || 6.9 || .516 || || .286 || 2.0 || .2 || .2 || .6 || 1.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Joe Wolf† | 2 || 0 || 4.5 || .000 || || .500 || 1.5 || .0 || .0 || .5 || .5 |} Playoffs Boston Celtics |- | style="text-align:left;"|Alaa Abdelnaby | 4 || 4 || 17.0 || .458 || || || 3.3 || .3 || .0 || .3 || 5.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Dee Brown basketball, born 1968 | 4 || 3 || 33.3 || .366 || .143 || 1.000 || 1.5 || 3.8 || .5 || 1.0 || 11.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Sherman Douglas | 4 || 4 || 41.5 || .378 || .000 || .667 || 6.5 || 9.5 || 1.0 || .0 || 11.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Rick Fox | 4 || 0 || 17.8 || .280 || .333 || 1.000 || 4.8 || 1.3 || .5 || .3 || 4.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Kevin Gamble | 4 || 4 || 35.5 || .548 || .417 || 1.000 || 2.3 || 2.5 || 1.5 || .3 || 13.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Joe Kleine | 4 || 0 || 7.3 || .600 || || || 1.3 || .0 || .0 || .3 || 1.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Reggie Lewis | 1 || 1 || 13.0 || .636 || .000 || .750 || 2.0 || 1.0 || .0 || 1.0 || 17.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Xavier McDaniel | 4 || 0 || 31.5 || .415 || .000 || .667 || 4.5 || 2.3 || .3 || .8 || 12.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Kevin McHale basketball | 4 || 0 || 28.3 || .582 || || .857 || 7.3 || .8 || .5 || 1.8 || 19.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Robert Parish | 4 || 4 || 36.5 || .544 || || .857 || 9.5 || 1.3 || .3 || 1.5 || 17.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Lorenzo Williams basketball, born 1969 | 1 || 0 || 3.0 || 1.000 || || || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 2.0 |} † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Celtics only. Player statistics citation: Awards and records 1992–93 NBA season #NBA awards Transactions List of 1992–93 NBA season transactions References See also 1992–93 NBA season Category:Boston Celtics seasons Boston Celtics Boston Celtics Boston Celtics Celtics Celtics