Three players from the University of Washington have been drafted by the Boston Celtics over the decades, but get this: not a single one of them ever suited up for the storied franchise. That’s a gut punch, right? Especially when you think about the incredible talent that’s come out of Montlake. It makes you wonder what went wrong for these guys, because Boston has always built its legacy through the draft.
The Early Days and Aspiration
The Celtics’ entire foundation is pretty much built on their draft picks, or the shrewd trades they made on draft night itself. They snagged top stars and countless alumni this way. So, when Bill Vandenburgh heard his name called in the 6th round of the 1949 BAA Draft, after two seasons with our Huskies, you know the dream was real. Just a few years later, Dean Parsons, a center who played four seasons at Washington, was picked in the 8th round (4th pick, 60th overall) of the 1955 NBA Draft. Both had the chance, the call, the dream. And both, according to the records, did not make the team. Imagine the disappointment for those guys, working so hard in college, only to fall short of that final hurdle with a legendary club. It’s a brutal reminder of just how tough it is to break into the pros, even when a team invests a draft pick in you.
A Modern Pick and the Same Old Story
Fast forward to more recent times, and we find Matisse Thybulle, a wing player drafted in the 1st round (20th pick, 20th overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft. This wasn’t some late-round flyer, this was a *first-round pick* coming out of Washington after four seasons! A first-rounder, from our own backyard, going to a team known for developing talent directly through the draft. That should be a lock, right? A guy with that kind of draft capital, surely he’d get a shot. But no, the story remains the same: Thybulle, like Vandenburgh and Parsons before him, did not make the team. It’s a baffling trend. The Celtics have pulled talent from all kinds of schools over the years, from blue blood programs to the smaller institutions, but when it comes to Washington, the outcome is always the same.
It’s a tough stat to swallow, knowing the talent that’s come through Montlake over the years. We always want to see our local guys shine on the biggest stages. Maybe someday, a Husky draftee will actually stick with a legendary franchise like Boston. Until then, we keep rooting for our Washington talent to carve out their own legacies, no matter where they land. Go Dawgs!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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