Houston Rockets: Happy Birthday Kevin McHale

Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Space City Scoop and all the staff would like to wish Kevin McHale a very Happy Birthday!
Head coach of the Houston Rockets Kevin McHale has suffered from multiple losses of family members in recent years, but fortunately he has basketball and the success of the Rockets to keep him in good spirits. Basketball of course has been what McHale has excelled at for nearly 2o years professionally as a coach and Hall-of-Fame player. Even in college basketball came easy, McHale still ranks second at the University of Minnesota in career points (1704) and rebounds (950).
His entrance into the NBA in 1980 as the third pick of the Boston Celtics initiated a dynasty that would win three NBA Championships over the next six years. During his time with the Celtics, McHale won back-to-back Sixth Man of the Year awards, made it to the All-Star game 7 times and was named to the NBA All-Defensive team 3 times.
Fellow NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said of McHale, “Kevin McHale’s the best player I played against because he was unstoppable offensively, and he gave me nightmares on defense.”
During his three years as coach of the Rockets, McHale has compiled a record of 96-78 (57%). McHale is also one of six members of the 1985–1986 Celtics’ championship team to serve as an NBA head coach (Larry Bird, Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, Sam Vincent and Rick Carlisle are the others.
Hopefully the Rockets can give the coach a nice birthday present on Friday against the Indiana Pacers, where his old teammate Larry Bird serves as the general manger.