Danny Ainge Greatest Games: 45 Points (Career-High) vs 76ers (1988)

[@davesmith6815]

I'm same age as Danny Ainge, we came into BYU together. He was an awesome college player and a very good pro.

[@Joseph-lz5er]

And a great GM!

[@cchristmas8750]

Man growing up in New England was a treat as a kid . Danny AInge was a superstar and had one of the best looking jumpshots ever !!

[@Amick44]

He was a superstar in college. Pretty good pro after 3-4 yrs or so.

[@TonyinMBSC8669]

Danny Ainge is the only athlete to be a High School First Team All American in football, baseball and basketball.

[@jjs777fzr]

The guy had some serious talent. He also evolved into a great player as he matured. To this day I think he guarded Jordan intensely and caused MJ to really get frustrated. Look at the Phoenix vs Bulls games.

[@TonyinMBSC8669]

@Azathoth Hastur During his time in Boston, Ainge was Not the Best Celtic. But having watched ALL of the Celtics playoff games during that era, Ainge was very good! Down the stretch of many of those playoff games, he made key baskets. And he would make a very high percentage of his FT shots. Their opponents made mistakes not guarding him. Ainge was definitely an integral part of those 4 Finals appearances and 2 Championships in the mid 80s!

[@KClouisville]

@@TonyinMBSC8669 He was definitely a guy who was underrated because he played with a lot of other great players...if you'd thrown him on some bad teams in the mid '80s and just let him shoot like he did in this game he'd have easily had a 20 points a game average for sure.

[@TonyinMBSC8669]

@@KClouisville Ainge was a scrappy player! He also made some big shots in many of the Celtics playoff wins!

[@LaurenMiddleton28]

Ainge was a FAR Better athlete than Jordan. Jordan was excellent at 1 sport where as Ainge was excellent at 3 but actually 4. He also was an amazing golfer too and easily could have earned his PGA card.

[@Amick44]

He hit 45 with Sacramento as well.

[@acornsucks2111]

Only athlete to ever be an all-American in three sports in high school. Also briefly played with the Toronto Blue Jays.

[@warrencaudle4378]

AND - while a pro baseball player, he was the NCAA basketball player of the year. He is that good. Saw him in high school, as I officiated the state BK tournament.

[@ronaldm1156]

This is so much better rhan the basketball of today.

[@toddubow2599]

Ainge, Bird, Parrish, McCale, and Johnson were the greatest starting 5 in NBA history. All had god like eye hand coordination. All shared the same cocky cool prankster personality. Like were like a crime gang you never messed with. There was a jet eye mind connection that I can only compare to the Beatles.

[@NoneOfUrBizOk]

*McHale.....no big deal just seen it was misspelled and thought I'd correct. 🍻

[@JAMESGANG-f5u]

You still missed Parish and Jedi 😂 Yea those 5 are my favorite starting 5 ever. With Walton, Wedman and Sichting coming off of the bench in ‘86 Only the 2014 Spurs come anywhere close to the ball movement.

[@johnferris9526]

“Like were like” ???

[@kevinwalsh4652]

Jedi, FYI

[@Indastreets4life]

Underated player.

[@theheebs100]

As a big myself, that outlet from Parish just before the 4 minute mark is downright sexy

[@truthhurts837]

Ha

[@20thCenturyMan80]

After Bird, Ainge was my favorite player. Was pissed when they traded him for Pinkney and Klein.

[@ericlaurenceglassman]

Worst trade in Celtics history! Danny was in his prime when they traded him too. At least Red paid him back by making him General Manager and President of Basketball Operations. Ainge is a winner!!!

[@dp233332]

i thought the celtics' decision to trade Ainge for ed pinkney and joe kleine in 1989 while Bird was out for the yr with an injury was a bad idea at the time, and I stand by it 28 yrs later...1st costly and foresee-able bad move by Red and the front office of my lifetime..Altho I understand that Reggie Lewis was on the rise, IMO Bird clearly missed Ainge in 1990, as did anyone capable of drawing double teams down low in the post and kicking it out to the open shooter-1990 didnt end well and I gotta wonder if that series vs the Knicks woulda ended better for us....

[@danielyankun3605]

Ainge I think that the Celtics trading him is what made him the GM he is now. It showed him that the NBA is a business and that you can't keep guys around for sentimental reasons. If they had never traded Ainge, he probably never would've traded Pierce and KG.

[@Amick44]

That was certainly a weak trade. Quality out, quantity in. Primarily cause he was one of the few "tradeable" Celts that wasn't that old.

[@Amick44]

They weren't front line players for sure.

[@dl3988]

If he played in today's pick-and-roll, space-and-pace NBA, he'd be an elite PG! And if he played for D'Antoni, he'd probably be averaging 25 and 10 LOL

[@GABRIELA-ACEVEDO.]

He's 1 of those players that would be perfect for today's era.

[@LankyBeanss]

killin that mid range

[@michaelrobinstonemorales8256]

They should've retired his number long time ago in Boston. Cammon 2 rings as a player and 1 ring as a gm. Show some love Boston!

[@allencampbell8322]

Danny was an all around great player

[@YankeeStacking]

Ainge was a very good 3 point shooter during this time-one of the BEST in the 80s. Imagine if he focused as passionately on the 3 as they do today??

[@TheMrmartind40]

Hadn't seen this. Danny Ainge was an excellent 2 way player. Though he was the 5th wheel on the 86 team, he started on allegedly the greatest team in NBA history. Ainge is still the only person to have been All American in 3 sports in hs. And, he's a very good golfer!

[@jjhrkel]

Danny range!

[@TehRoshi]

Wow just realized these guys are still commentating the Celtics

[@landonnicholsen910]

My coach played with ainge said he was one of the best players he ever seen. Feel bad for my coach had to guard ainge. He was ruthless.

[@j2martnz348]

Imagine if Bias and Lewis didn't die....

[@theheebs100]

how great is it that Tommy and Mike have been in the booth together for longer than I have been alive?

[@swingtrade2]

i went to weber state and we played byu every year. he was so good.

[@ozamnanda6957]

Watching Celtic games was not as much "fun" as the flashy Laker games back then but the Celtics was a great team indeed. Robert Parish blocks for Ainge; Ainge gives nice passes to DJ (and vice versa). This night Danny had hot hand so he was given passes often. Every player had the common goal of winning as the team rather than selfishness.

[@justinheat1]

Top class..fouled before the end so he could get an ovation....Celtics!!

[@suttonsplash14]

Way to go Danny!

[@gdog3finally]

Ainge was recruited to play football with offers from Oregon, Washington, ASU, USC, Utah, BYU, Michigan State and Notre Dame. Ainge was a first team High School All American in basketball, football and baseball. Danny played MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays briefly before finally choosing to focus on basketball. Ainge was an All Ametican at BYU and obviously played a key role in winning 2 NBA Championships with the Boston Celtics. He played in 6 NBA Finals, 4 with the Celtics, 1 with the Portland Trailblazers and once more with the Phoenix Suns. Then as a General Manager with the Celtics, Ainge won another NBA Championship. What an amazing sports career Danny Ainge has had!!! He's still not done.

[@georgestewart3242]

I was at this game. The only time I ever got to the old Boston Garden. Sat on the floor near the Sixers bench. Bird was injured, but wore a bright yellow sweater and sat a few rows up from their bench.

[@Amick44]

You know, looking back, it's a shame Boston traded Danny and then Brian Shaw. They could've been a very good backcourt. I know they kind of panicked cause of the age of the front line, but .... Ainge and Shaw could've been quite good for years.

[@justinbolivar8103]

Bro was actually a goat and people don’t realize it. He was mad underrated

[@chewy98ta28]

I remember this game, I like the Brooklyn trade better but this was a pretty good night for him.

[@GABRIELA-ACEVEDO.]

Notice how most points came from midrange. Today all you see is players shooting many unnecessary 3's.

[@Kickingit06]

I liked both Ed Pickney and Joe Kline. They were both serviceable bigs off the bench. But hard to believe the Celtics traded Ainge for them in the offseason right after this.

[@willaerley7140]

The Celtics were in decline then, but they should have traded him for draft picks to rebuild.

[@Kickingit06]

@@willaerley7140 Disagree. Bird's back was not what it was yet and Reggie Lewis was a stud I still think a healthy C's were the best team in 91.

[@davidbothwell2905]

Ready AINGE fire!!

[@jordanjenkins1671]

One of the 2 most decently skilled BYU players to translate their game well into the NBA. Him and Shawn Bradley. They both were in Space Jam as well! NBA Jimmer isn't anything like NCAA Jimmer.

[@brdpitt]

Example for all the talk about BYU players, only Ainge and Bradley made some splash in the Nba which is whay I hoped Jimmer Fredette would do. Fredette needs to play for the Knicks on a triangle like offense and play like Steve Kerr did. Be a specialist 3 point shooter.

[@jordanjenkins1671]

I loved Jimmer at BYU and have been sad to see him not be able to impact the NBA with his shooting prowess. I'm getting nervous that if he doesn't prove himself this season, it will be his last.

[@David_R922]

Greg Kite.

[@louisvelez40]

Danny Ainge had game. Dude could get his own shot and all this time I thought he was just a spot up shooter guy is playing like an all star on the Celtics. Yup Larry Bird shot too much lol

[@GABRIELA-ACEVEDO.]

And you noticed most his shots here were from midrange. He could shoot the 3 ball like you saw in the video here. In today's game he would've taken all 3's and not really any midrange shots.

[@lotuslife3239]

@@GABRIELA-ACEVEDO. thats facts. Danny Ainge playing today would be Devin Booker with no dunk better playmaking and hustle on d.

[@allencampbell8322]

My all time favorite

[@SuperBeachbum74]

This was the season, Bird was recovering from heel surgery !

[@bluemdrapperbaby]

5:47 come on danny do it

[@gffpau]

AND A FEW MONTHS LATER THEY TRADED HIM ; AUEBACH'S WORST TRADE EVER

[@Amick44]

It wasn't a good one, for sure.

[@jjs777fzr]

Yeah I remember the day I heard about the trade. Had a feeling in my stomach like I got punched. It was the demise of the starting five I grew to love. Then they traded DJ.

[@shedesires5627]

Wasn't Jimmy Rodgers the force behind his trade to the Kings?

[@shedesires5627]

@@jjs777fzr I had that same sick feeling when Rick Adelman wasn't starting Danny in Portland.

[@gffpau]

@@shedesires5627 jimmy rogers is maybe the worst coach in celtics hisory !

[@conni70]

when you gotta double team Danny Ainge, you've got problems..

[@ericlaurenceglassman]

Does anybody have this game in its entirety? If you do can you please post it :) many thanks in advance. i was named after danny ainge and i idolize him

[@shedesires5627]

You were named after him? I named my kid after him, too.

[@bigjosh9364]

The gratuitous barkley highlight was hilarious tho.

[@ShareefusMaximus]

Larry was holding him down. He was right to tell management to trade all of those old guys. 😂

[@twallajenkins2379]

Although Bird had said that Dennis Johnson was the best player he ever played with, he also said that Ainge was the best athlete in his opinion. He was dynamite at BYU, and a decent minor league baseball player, albeit the Blue Jays did not give him a fair shot at the majors. No matter the Celtics are sure glad they drafted him with Bird out the entire season minus 6 lousy games due to a serious foot injury.

[@spencerhammer5870]

Wish the Celtics made the finals one last time with this group to play the Lakers again.. Fans deserved one final matchup.

[@allencampbell8322]

He and Grayson Allen our two favorite players of all time

[@larrybaxter6881]

Danny Ainge has been drafted for the church league in the hereafter - team Mormon. This team will include Shawn Bradley, Jimmer Freddette, Mark Madsen ... and we are still waiting for a 5th. So we will keep knocking on those doors. (-:

[@warrencaudle4378]

Keep Fred Roberts on the list. He was a great player, and also played NBA for several seasons.

[@warrencaudle4378]

Scott Pollard played for Kansas, but is a member. He dated my daughter in HS in Kennewick WA. His older brother Allen played NBA then for the Tri-City Chinook, along with Andy Toolson. Coached by Steve Hayes (Idaho State, Philadelphia 76'ers)

[@David_R922]

Thurl Bailey

[@shedesires5627]

I wish Ainge were immortal. Two heart-attacks ('09 and '19).

[@73Trident]

Tom Chambers

[@John19182004]

well.. Bird did play 6 games that season..

[@reneep9972]

Great game by Danny but oh what a difference watching highlights without Larry Bird. The Celtics were at best average without him but with him they were always a top 2 team in the league and poetry in motion to watch. In my book, the greatest all around player in league history and the way he made other players so much better is unrivaled. This was such a depressing year for Celtics fans. Parish really stepped up his game this season though.

[@landonnicholsen910]

My boi Ainge. Mr North Eugene haha fucking savage.

[@artboston4787]

Wow Kevin McHale was great!

[@shedesires5627]

If anyone can help...I'm looking for full video of all six games Ainge started with Portland in 1992. I can't find these anywhere, especially the two wins, one of which he was Miller Lite Player of the Game. 1. February 16 (L) 2. April 9 (L) 3. April 12 (W) 4. April 14 (L) 5. April 15 (W) 6. April 18 (L)

[@chuteball]

Where's the handchecking?

[@Barnabus007]

Does anyone happen to know the rest of his line aside from points in this game?

[@lotuslife3239]

Danny Ainge December 09, 1988. 45pts, 3 rbs, 6 ast, 2 stl. 18/25 from the field, 2/4 from 3, 3/4 from free throw, 69.0% from the field. Nice.

[@ruminator3570]

I thought the 45 point game was against the Lakers. Eh. Still awesome performance.

[@denmarkpacuribot2736]

Austin Reeves!!

[@JAMESGANG-f5u]

3:05 Ronnie Barkley geet mad 😡 as all geedow after that’n

[@JustNeedaBeerandPark]

Proof that Bird was scoring too much....LOL!!!

[@bigjosh9364]

Every time I see Ainge in a highlight he's getting mushed in the face or dunked on or just bullied in one way or another.. Really had to google to see if he could actually play basketball.

[@Aingelives44]

Awesome role player.

[@johnd2442]

+Joe Kidd Aingelives is right - a solid role player and 5th option on a good team.

[@johnd2442]

+Joe Kidd Hah, not at all. A.C. Green also made an All-Star team. Was he more than a role player ever? No...he wasn't, just like Ainge. He was never more than a 5th option in Boston. I'd agree with your point that he was more than 5th option only when he went to Sacramento.

[@johnd2442]

+Joe Kidd So...we come back full circle. Awesome role player. No one was confusing him as a John Paxson/Steve Kerr shooter in this discussion.

[@Aingelives44]

+Aingelives44 Ainge was my favorite player growing up and dude was always an all-star in my book. :) The rest of the world only saw him that way once.

[@AgentJ2007]

+johnd2442 Ainge showed he could be much more than a 5th option. Ainge was a solid point guard in his prime. He had a respectable defence too.

[@allencampbell8322]

I bet Bird was fuming

[@faruzurtev2284]

Lucas, DeBusschere, Frazier, Monroe, Bradley. Chopped liver? Umm... no.

[@edscottable]

Killing a young Hersey Hawkins

[@JustNeedaBeerandPark]

Now if Ainge could be this good of a GM..........the Celtics would be winning again......trading KG and Pierce was stupid!!!!!

[@JustNeedaBeerandPark]

***** He couldve waited until 2016 or 17 to rebuild.....they're a win away from playing OKC in the 2012 Finals....and were solid in 2013......with Jason Terry coming off the bench......I wouldve waited on free agency (knowing those guys had 3 or 4 years left)!!!

[@JustNeedaBeerandPark]

+Joe Kidd They still shouldve retired Celtics. Two, theyre a sixth seeded team in 2013 and couldve rebuild the team with those three guys still anchoring the team.............thats how I wouldve done that!!!

[@johnd2442]

+$ublimeProduction$ Thank heavens you weren't the Celtics GM! Ainge made an incredible move trading away Pierce and KG.

[@jakethomas3029]

Underworld Films Today we just signed Gordon Hayward after making the ECF last year. Pierce can retire a Celtic, Garnett went back and rightly retired a TWolve while Allen slipped back into the shadows. The trade going down as the biggest heist in NBA history and cemented Ainges legacy as one of the best.

[@jakethomas3029]

Underworld Films Oh, and we have added 2 lottery picks, with 6 more to come over the next 3 years, while consistently being a top 4 team in the East (last year #1, hoping to repeat) and without ever missing the playoffs.