"He terrorizes the league…" – Pistons coach reveals how difficult it was to guard Celtics forward Kevin McHale
It took a while for Kevin McHale to show the Boston Celtics and the league what he could do. In his first five seasons, the 3rd overall pick of the 1980 Draft got his minutes but mostly came off the bench to spell Cedric Maxwell.
He got the chance to prove himself as a starter when ‘Cornbread’ suffered a knee injury during the 1984-85 season. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher made good on that opportunity, dropping a game-high 56 points while also hauling down 16 rebounds to push Boston past the Detroit Pistons, 138-129.
Proving that it was no fluke, the 6-foot-10 forward would unload 42 points two nights later as the Cs downed the New York Knicks. With McHale proving to be a revelation, Boston went on to win the 1986 NBA title, their 16th crown in franchise history.
Coming into his own
Fresh from winning his third NBA title, McHale would come into his own the next season. He would have the best output of his career, averaging 26.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.2 blocks in 77 games.
That performance saw him figure in the Most Valuable Player race. More importantly, McHale established himself as a defender, which is why he regularly made it to the NBA All-Defensive First and Second teams.
“He terrorizes the league. We have no one to stop him. I don't know anybody in the league who can effectively stop him one-on-one. Not only is he the toughest power forward in the league, he's the best,” Pistons coach Chuck Daly said via the New York Times.
One physical trait that aided McHale offensively and defensively was his long arms. This was specifically pointed out by Celtics president Red Auerbach, adding that it left opposing players scratching their heads.
Bird hails McHale
NBA coaches were not the only ones who marveled at McHale’s game. Larry Bird agreed that the retired power-forward had transformed into an unstoppable player – especially if he positioned himself near the basket.
“He's gone from being a great scorer to being unstoppable. When he posts himself up six to eight feet from the basket, you can't get him away. If you try, you're asking for trouble, foul trouble,” Larry Legend said.
Kevin spent his entire professional career with the Celtics, averaging 17.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.7 blocks. Like most players, he was not spared from dealing with injuries. That included a foot injury that nagged him in 1987. However, McHale made it a point to suit up despite not being 100% for as long as he can physically perform and help the Celtics win.
Besides foot issues, McHale also dealt with leg and back injuries during the 1992-93 season. He announced his retirement after Boston was eliminated by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round.
