From 1980-81 through the 1991-92 season, Kevin McHale teamed with Larry Bird and Robert Parish to form one of the greatest frontlines in professional basketball history with the Boston Celtics. In that 12-year era, the Celtics compiled a 690-276 record, won nine Atlantic Division titles and six Eastern Conference championships. At 6-foot-10, 225 pounds, McHale's nearly unstoppable array of low post moves revolutionized pivot play and helped lead Boston to three NBA championships in 1981, 1984 and 1986. His 56-point effort against the Detroit Pistons on March 3, 1985, ranks second all-time in Celtics' single-game history behind Larry Bird's 60-point performance against the Atlanta Hawks on March 12, 1985. Just eight days earlier (March 5, 1985), McHale had scored a career-high 42 points against the New York Knicks.
Named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary Team in 1996 and seven NBA All-Star Teams (1984, 1986-91), McHale was an All-NBA First Team selection in 1987. He won the league's Sixth Man Award in 1984 and 1985. Noted for his high-percentage shooting (.554-ninth best in NBA history), McHale was the first player in NBA history to shoot 60 percent from the field and 80 percent from the foul line in the same season. Defensively, McHale was an NBA All-Defensive Team selection from 1986 to 1988 and a Second Team selection three times (1983, 1989, 1990). On Boston's all-time lists, McHale ranks second in field goal percentage (6,830-12,334, .554), third in games (971), fourth in points (17,335) and field goals made (6,830), and sixth in rebounds (7,112) and minutes (30,118). McHale, who was Boston's first choice (third overall) in the 1980 NBA Draft, retired from the Celtics following the 1992-93 season.
A native of Hibbing, MN, McHale was named scholastic Mr. Basketball in Minnesota (1976) and enjoyed an All-America career at the University of Minnesota. A 1980 graduate, McHale was named All-Big 10 in 1979 and 1980. He graduated second all-time in points (1,704, 15.2 ppg) and in rebounding (950, 8.5 rpg). On February 18, 1995, he was honored as the top player in the University of Minnesota basketball history. McHale is currently the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
