Considered to be one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history, Kevin McHale’s name isn’t mentioned as often as it should nowadays. A Boston Celtics legend who contributed night in and night out on both ends of the floor and stepped up big time in the NBA Finals. Regardless of if he was starting the game or subbing in, McHale’s footwork ranks among the most beautiful in the history of the league.
Thriving with a wingspan of 2.44 meters, McHale made sure to make a big impact on the defensive end while also dominating inside as an efficient scorer. Simply put, you can’t write the history of this beautiful game without bringing in Kevin McHale’s name multiple times.
This is why in the following paragraphs, we’re going to let you know everything there is about ‘The Black Hole of the Low Post’ and his playing career, one of the best Sixth Men ever, and a guy who helped the Boston Celtics win not one, not two, but three titles. Here’s the story of the one and only, Kevin McHale.
Kevin McHale – Early Years
Kevin Edward McHale was born in Hibbing, Minnesota; to Josephine Starcevic and Paul Austin McHale. He got into sports at quite an early age, earning Mr. Basketball honors in 1976, leading Hibbing High School’s basketball squad to the AA Minnesota State Championship game during his senior season. He’s of Irish and Croatian descent on his father’s and mother’s side, respectively.
Ironically, however, it wasn’t basketball that drove him during his days in high school. As a Minnesotan, McHale’s first love was hockey. But after going through a massive growth sprout from 5’9” to 6’11’ ‘; basketball coach Gary Addington started working him out one-on-one to develop his rather unique skill set. The rest, as you know, it’s history.
Kevin McHale – University Of Minnesota
It didn’t take long before Kevin McHale drew plenty of attention from nationwide college programs. He was standing at 6’11” as a freshman and his two-way expertise was intriguing, to say the least. Eventually, he decided to stay home and commit to the University of Minnesota to play for the Golden Gophers.
There, McHale and future Blazers and Lakers star Mychal Thompson put together one of the best one-two punches in all of basketball, dominating with their low-post skills, leading them to the NIT Championship Game.
From 1976 to 1980, McHale would go on to become a school legend. Up to this day, he still ranks second in school history in total points (1,704), and rebounds (950), averaging 15.2 points per game to go along with 8.5 boards. Unsurprisingly, he’s considered the best player in Golden Gophers’ history.
Kevin McHale – Entering The NBA
Long before he won three championships in Massachusetts, NBA insiders thought that Kevin McHale would eventually join the New York Knicks. However, then-Boston Celtics’ President Red Auerbach completed one of the biggest heists in NBA Draft history. They had the first-overall pick but had no intention of using it. Instead, Auerbach wanted to shape its frontcourt with him and another rising star: Robert Parish.
McHale sent that first pick alongside a late first-round pick to the Golden State Warriors. In return, they sent them the third-overall pick and Parish. That way, Auerbach got his wish by taking Kevin McHale with the third-overall pick, putting together two perfect complements alongside surging sophomore Larry Bird. That was the beginning of one of the most dominant dynasties in NBA history.
However, it wasn’t all fun and games at first. McHale wanted to sign a long-term deal with the Celtics, even threatening to sit out and go play overseas instead. Eventually, he agreed on terms on a three-year deal with the Celtics, the franchise he’d eventually spend his entire career with.
McHale’s professional basketball career started with him coming off the bench. That way, the Celtics would get an explosive scoring punch in the second unit and a starting-caliber player who could help them pull out with big leads or come back into games. However, he played starters minutes and closed-out games as well.
Larry Bird, Robert Parish, And The Boston Celtics Dynasty
In a time when the league was transitioning towards the ‘Sixth Man’ model, McHale became the first player to actually thrive and dominate off it. He started to get more playing time as the seasons went by and his scoring and rebounding numbers kept going on on a yearly basis. But after winning the NBA Finals in 1981, the Celtics failed to thrive at that stage until 1984.
He kept on being one of the league’s finest scorers off the bench. Eventually, McHale won the Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1984 and 1985 before being promoted to the starting unit for the 1985-86 season, one of the greatest seasons in franchise history. The Celtics traded away Cedric Maxwell and landed Bill Walton, pairing him up with McHale in the paint to wreak havoc in the Atlantic Division. That season, McHale averaged then-career highs in points (21.3), assists (2.7), and blocks per game (2.8).
Next to Bird, Parish, Danny Ainge, and Dennis Johnson, the Celtics won 67 games in the regular season and broke an NBA record with an 82-18 season overall (playoffs included), topping the mark previously set by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers. They set a record by going 50-1 in the Boston Garden and won 41 of their first 50 games overall.
McHale, who was praised for his durability in the first five seasons of his NBA career, missed 14 games early in the campaign but played a huge role going forward as soon as he went back. All while making it to the NBA All-Defensive First Team as well.
Mastering the fine art of dominating in the low post, McHale was like a magician inside the restricted area. He put league rivals in the ‘Torture Chamber’, dizzying them with his pump-fakes, spin moves, and making the most of his long arms and athleticism to always get an edge below the rim. Eventually, however, injuries got the best of him and he started to decline, yet he still helped Boston win three NBA championships throughout his 15-year Hall of Fame tenure at the Boston Garden.
Kevin McHale – Dominating In The NBA Finals
Even though he was good in the regular season, solid in the playoffs, and even better in the Eastern Conference Finals, Kevin McHale was at his finest when it mattered the most; which is when the NBA championship was on the line. It’s not a coincidence Boston won three rings with him.
While he didn’t do much as a rookie in his first ring in 1981, he sure took a step forward three years later. In 1984, McHale scored 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game to help his squad beat the Lakers in seven games. Then, in 1986, he helped head coach K.C. Jones beat the Rockets in just six games, leading Boston with 25.8 points and 2.5 blocks per game.
Kevin McHale – Awards And Accolades
Kevin McHale’s résumé is one for the ages. He’s a three-time NBA Champion, a seven-time NBA All-Star, and made one All-NBA First Team, three All-Defensive First Teams, and three All-Defensive Second Teams. He was named Sixth Man of the Year twice, made it to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and was a part of the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.
On top of that, he was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, won two gold medals with the USA, and had his no. 32 jersey retired by the Boston Celtics and the no. 44 by the Minnesota Golden Gophers, was Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball and made the First-Team All-Big Ten.
Kevin McHale – Work As An Executive
It didn’t take long after McHale announced his retirement in 1993 before we got to see him again. The Hall of Fame PF joined the Minnesota Timberwolves to serve as a special assistant and TV analyst for Turner Sports that same season. Then, in 1994, he was promoted to Assistant General Manager and eventually VP of Basketball Operations.
That way, McHale was responsible for completely turning the franchise around with one single decision. He decided to take Kevin Garnett straight out of high school and he’d eventually become the greatest player in franchise history. With Garnett at the helm, it seemed like it was a matter of time before they were playing for NBA Championships.
Then, the NBA found out that McHale had a secret deal with Joe Smith to get past the league’s salary cap. Smith took a massive pay cut with the promise that the team would sign him to a max deal after that contract ran out, his contract was voided and the Commissioner fined the Timberwolves $3.5 million, also taking away 3 of their next 5 first-round picks. That prevented them from surrounding KG with more Hall of Fame-caliber players, all but dooming their aspirations.
Then, in 2005, McHale got his first stint as a head coach, taking over for Flip Saunders until the season’s end, with Dwane Casey replacing him in the offseason. Then, after years of playoff struggles and a heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, McHale worked out a trade to send KG to his beloved Boston Celtics in return for two first-round picks and give players. The Timberwolves struggled the next season and McHale was relieved of his duties.
Kevin McHale – Coaching Career And Television Analyst
After that tenure as an executive, McHale got another shot at a coaching gig in the league, this time with the 2010-11 Houston Rockets. There, he turned the Rockets into a playoff team and even took them to the WCF in 2015, but was fired just eleven games into the 2015-16 season.
Then, the Hall of Fame player signed a deal to come back as an NBA analyst shortly after his firing, joining Ernie Johnson, Greg Anthony, and Chris Webber on NBA TV’s Fan Night. On top of that, he made two appearances on the popular TV show ‘Cheers’.
How Good Was Kevin McHale Really?
Kevin McHale was one of the first players to agree to come off the bench for his team’s sake. His moves and footwork made him an unstoppable force in the league, and modern big men still lookout to his game to improve their craft. He’s one of the most influential players in league history in that regard, and one of the main reasons why Boston rolled in the Eastern Conference and won three championships during the 80s.
Upon the time of his retirement, he owned the Celtics’ single-game record with a 56-point explosion against the Detroit Pistons. He boasted a career field goal percentage of 55.4%, one of the highest in league history. He was the first player to be a top-ten scorer both from the field (7th) and the free-throw line (5th) in the very same season, and a seven-time All-Star for his scoring who could also make the NBA All-Defensive First Team on a yearly basis. No wonder why his career ended in the Hall of Fame.
What happened to Kevin McHale’s daughter?
Alexandra “Sasha” McHale passed away at the age of 23 due to complications from lupus, an auto-immune disease. The death of Sasha came as a shock to the basketball world. She was a bright young woman who had a promising future ahead of her on the same position and the same number as her father.
When did Kevin McHale retire from the NBA?
Kevin McHale retired from the NBA in 1993 after spending 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics. During his time with the Celtics, McHale emerged as one of the best all-around players in the league. He was a two-time winner of the NBA Sixth Man Award and a six-time member of either the NBA All-Defensive First or Second Team. McHale also ranks 21st in the NBA in career field goal percentage (.554).
Was Kevin McHale drafted by the Celtics?
The Celtics and the Warriors agreed on a trade that would send Robert Parish and the number three pick to Boston for the number one pick, Joe Barry Carroll, and the number thirteen pick. The Celtics then used the third pick to draft Kevin McHale.
Where did Kevin McHale go to college?
Kevin McHale attended the University of Minnesota. He was one of the best players to come out of the college, where he averaged 15.2 points per game and 950 rebounds over his four seasons there.
What college team did Kevin McHale play for?
Kevin McHale was a member of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers from 1976 to 1980. The 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) McHale played basketball at the power forward position and had career averages of 15.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Where did Kevin McHale grow up?
Hibbing, Minnesota is Kevin McHale’s hometown. Not only was he born there, but he also led his high school team to a runner-up finish in the AA Minnesota State Championship game.
Who did Kevin McHale coach?
McHale coached the Houston Rockets from 2011 to 2015, leading the team to the playoffs in each of his four seasons at the helm. However, McHale’s tenure with the Rockets came to an abrupt end in 2015 when he was fired after a 4-7 start to the season.
How rich is Kevin McHale?
Kevin McHale may not be as rich as some of his colleagues, but he’s still doing pretty well for himself. The American basketball coach has a net worth of $16 million, which is nothing to sneeze at. And he’s not just rich in financial terms – he’s also rich in basketball knowledge.
What did James Harden say about Kevin McHale?
It all started when McHale, now a TV analyst, said that Harden is “not a leader.” This didn’t sit well with the former Rockets coach, who responded by calling McHale a “clown” and questioning his character. The spat has since escalated, with each side taking shots at the other.
