Today in Boston Celtics history: Chris Herren born; Ron Grandison, Charles Smith signed

September 27, 2025 Dailybiz SPORTS 0

Justin Quinn, Celtics Wire
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2 min read

Today in Boston Celtics history, Ron Grandison signed with the ball club as a free agent in 1988. Grandison played his NCAA basketball at both the University of California – Irvine, and the University of New Orleans before he was picked up in the fifth round of the 1987 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets with the 100th overall pick (there were many more rounds to the draft in this era).

He would never play a game for that franchise, however, and instead played a season for the Rochester Flyers in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA – that era’s equivalent of the NBA G League) after being cut by the Nuggets. Grandison then signed with the Celtics the following fall. The Los Angeles native’s stay in Boston was a short one, just 72 games in one season.

He averaged 2.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game as a Celtic.

More transactions

Exactly one year earlier, in 1987, point guard Charles Smith was also signed as an unrestricted free agent.

Spud Webb#4, Point Guard for the Atlanta Hawks dribbles the basketball past #13 Charles Smith of the Boston Celtics during their NBA Central Division basketball game on 13th March 1990 at the Omni arena in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, United States. The Celtics won the game 112 - 100. (Photo by Tony Smith/Allsport/ Getty Images)
Spud Webb#4, Point Guard for the Atlanta Hawks dribbles the basketball past #13 Charles Smith of the Boston Celtics during their NBA Central Division basketball game on 13th March 1990 at the Omni arena in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, United States. The Celtics won the game 112 – 100. (Photo by Tony Smith/Allsport/ Getty Images)

An alum of Georgetown University who went unselected in the 1989 NBA draft, Smith would play 65 games over two seasons with Boston, averaging 2.8 points, 1.1 boards, and 1.7 assists per game.

Birthdays

It is also the birthday of former Celtics point guard Chris Herren, born this day in 1975 in Fall River, Massachusetts.

9 Apr 2001: Matt Geiger #52 of the Philadelphia 76ers loses the ball as he drives through the defense of Vitaly Potpenko #52 and Chris Herren #12 of the Boston Celtics as the 76ers defeated the Celtics 108-95 at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. < > Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.
9 Apr 2001: Matt Geiger #52 of the Philadelphia 76ers loses the ball as he drives through the defense of Vitaly Potpenko #52 and Chris Herren #12 of the Boston Celtics as the 76ers defeated the Celtics 108-95 at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. < > Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.

Herren played collegiately for Boston College and Fresno State before he was picked up with the 33rd overall pick of the 1999 NBA draft, for whom he played one season.

Bubble history

It was on this date that the Celtics’ time in the Orlando bubble and their pandemic-interrupted 2019-20 NBA season ended in a 125-113 loss to the Miami Heat in the East Finals.

Sep 27, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) looks to drive the ball defended by Miami Heat forward Jae Crowder (99) during second half in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) looks to drive the ball defended by Miami Heat forward Jae Crowder (99) during second half in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

“Miami deserves a lot of credit,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said after the loss via the AP. “They’re super physical, super tough, very, very savvy. I think they’re the best team in the East and deserve to be representing the East in the way that they have played.”

Rest in Peace

Finally, it was also on this date that we lost former Boston point guard Art Williams. The Cal Poly Pomona alum was born in 1939 in Bonham, Texas and played his first three seasons in the NBA for the (then) San Diego (now, Houston) Rockets.

April, 1973; Boston, MA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Boston Celtics guard Art Williams (7) in action against the Atlanta Hawks during the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals at The Omni. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
April, 1973; Boston, MA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Boston Celtics guard Art Williams (7) in action against the Atlanta Hawks during the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals at The Omni. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports

Traded to the Celtics in 1970 for draft assets, Williams played parts of four seasons with Boston, averaging 4 points, 2.5 boards, and 3.2 assists per game before leaving in free agency to play in the American Basketball Association in 1974. Rest in peace.

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