38 Facts About Danny Ainge

1.

Daniel Ray Ainge is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and professional baseball player who serves as an executive for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association.

2.

Danny Ainge served as the Celtics' president of basketball operations from 2003 until his retirement in 2021, when he was succeeded by incumbent head coach Brad Stevens.

3.

Danny Ainge was then drafted into the NBA by the Celtics.

4.

Danny Ainge played in the NBA for 14 seasons, playing for the Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns, primarily as a shooting guard.

5.

Danny Ainge went on to coach the Suns for three seasons before joining management of the Celtics, with whom Ainge has three NBA championships to his credit.

6.

Danny Ainge concluded his college career having scored in double figures in 112 consecutive games, an NCAA record at that time.

7.

Danny Ainge was selected in baseball's 1977 amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.

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8.

Danny Ainge made it to the major leagues with the Blue Jays in 1979 while still in college.

9.

Danny Ainge is the second-youngest player in Blue Jays history to hit a home run, at 20 years and 77 days, surpassed only by Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.

10.

Danny Ainge played sparingly during his rookie season, but broke into the starting lineup in his second year, averaging 9.9 points per game.

11.

Danny Ainge remained an important role player off the bench, helping the Celtics defeat the rival Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals that year.

12.

Danny Ainge remained a starter for the Celtics for most of the next five seasons.

13.

Danny Ainge made his only appearance in the NBA All-Star Game that year, scoring 12 points.

14.

In 1989, Danny Ainge was traded to the Sacramento Kings, along with Brad Lohaus, for young center Joe Kleine and Ed Pinckney.

15.

Now a featured player on a team with no superstars, Danny Ainge averaged 20.3 points and 6.7 assists per game in that half-season with the Kings.

16.

Danny Ainge scored 45 points for the Kings in a loss to the Golden State Warriors, matching a career high that he had set just a few months prior against the Philadelphia 76ers while still playing for the Celtics at that time.

17.

In 1990, Danny Ainge was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for Byron Irvin and draft picks.

18.

Danny Ainge would go on to help the Blazers reach the 1992 NBA Finals, only to succumb to the Chicago Bulls in six games.

19.

Danny Ainge had stated in media interviews that he ideally wanted to stay in Portland and would contact Blazers management before seriously entertaining offers from other teams.

20.

On July 1,1992 Danny Ainge signed a contract with the Phoenix Suns on his first day of free agency.

21.

Danny Ainge was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.

22.

Danny Ainge was ejected from the contest for starting the fight.

23.

Danny Ainge became head coach of the Phoenix Suns in 1996.

24.

Danny Ainge's resignation from the Suns coaching job in 1999 was a sudden one; he cited a need to spend more time with his family.

25.

Danny Ainge requested a trade to a contender if management were unable to acquire veteran talent of Pierce's caliber.

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26.

Danny Ainge responded with two bold moves that changed the franchise's fortunes almost overnight: the 2007 trades for the Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett and the Seattle SuperSonics' Ray Allen immediately returned the Celtics to the ranks of the NBA's elite franchises for the first time since the early 1990s.

27.

Danny Ainge held the trophy for the first time since winning in 1986.

28.

On May 3,2010, Danny Ainge was fined $25K for tossing a towel to distract then Cleveland Cavaliers forward JJ Hickson shooting a free throw during game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

29.

On June 2,2021, Danny Ainge announced his retirement and named head coach Brad Stevens as his replacement in president of basketball operations role.

30.

On December 15,2021, Danny Ainge was hired as the CEO of basketball operations and alternate governor of the Utah Jazz.

31.

Danny Ainge's third move was the 2023 trade deadline a major trade to clear cap space he traded Mike Conley to Minnesota, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt to the Lakers.

32.

Danny Ainge signed young prospects Kris Dunn, Luka Samanic and Vernon Carey Jr.

33.

In 1996, Danny Ainge made his acting debut in Space Jam, playing himself.

34.

Danny Ainge has volunteered at a number of charitable organizations.

35.

Austin Danny Ainge is director of player personnel for the Boston Celtics and like his father, played basketball at BYU.

36.

Tanner Danny Ainge is a Utah County Commissioner, businessman, and lawyer.

37.

Danny Ainge had a mild heart attack in 2009, and another in 2019.

38.

Danny Ainge has ADHD, according to a personality test he took when Doc Rivers was coaching the Celtics.