BOSTON -- Who knew?
Kevin McHale, one of basketball's greatest performers and fiercest competitors, is a nice gentleman off the hard court.
PhilBoxing.com found out on Monday night while covering the Game 1 of the Boston Celtics versus-Philadephia 76ers Eastern Conference semifinals at the TD Garden in Boston. McHale was there as TV analyst for Turner Network Television (TNT) which broadcast the game.
This writer endeavored to interview the imposing 6-foot-10, 210-pound power forward but he politely declined because rest beckoned after a long day's work. McHale, now 60, did however oblige a photo-op. After one bad snap, he willingly agreed to take a second, which thankfully, turned out to be a gem. We shook hands and laughed a little for a fleeting moment. But to this NBA beat writer, the memories will last a lifetime.
Alongside the great Larry Bird, a fellow Hall-of-Fame inductee, McHale played for 13 years in Boston where he won three NBA titles. He averaged 17.9 points. 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots per in 971 regular games. A 7-time All-Star, McHale was just as deadly in the playoffs where he normed 18.8 points and 7.4 rebounds in 169 contests. McHale was also a three-time member of the NBA's All-Defensive First Team (1986-1988) and he won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award twice (1984, 1985).
McHale coached seven seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Houston Rockets, compiling a winning record of 232-185 in 417 games.
Photo: PhilBoxing.com NBA beat writer Oliver Iglesias poses for posterity with fellow media member and former Celtics great Kevin McHale at the TD Garden in Boston following Game 1 of the Celtics-Sixers series.
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