On this day in Boston Celtics history, point guard Kenneth Herman Rollins joined the team as a free agent in 1952. Rollins was a product of the University of Kentucky who competed for the United States in the 1948 London Olympics, winning a gold medal.
Before joining the Celtics, the Charleston, Missouri native had played for two professional clubs. Rollins had previously played for the Chicago Stags in the Basketball Association of America (BAA – a predecessor league of the NBA) until they folded at the end of the 1949-50 season, and after that, the Louisville Alumnites of the National Professional Basketball League in their sole 1950-51 season.
Rollins, the older brother of (then) Philadelphia (now, Golden State) Warriors 1956 NBA draft selection Phil, would take the 1951-52 season off from basketball altogether.