15-04-2025
Boston Celtics jersey history No. 16 - John Mahnken (1950-53)
Boston Celtics jersey history No. 16 - John Mahnken (1950-53)
The Boston Celtics have had players suiting up in a total of 68 different jersey numbers (and have three others not part of any numerical series) since their founding at the dawn of the Basketball Association of America (BAA -- the league that would become today's NBA), worn by well over 500 players in the course of Celtics history.
To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Celtics Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team.
With 25 of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Celtics to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover.
And for today's article, we will continue with the third of 7 people to wear the No. 16 jersey, Boston big man alum John Mahnken. After ending his college career at Georgetown, Mahnken joined the (defunct) Washington Capitols in their (and the BAA's) first-ever season.
The Jersey City, New Jersey native also played for the (also defunct) Baltimore Bullets, the (also defunct) Indianapolis Jets, the Baltimore Bullets (another defunct club), the (then) Fort Wayne (now, Detroit) Pistons, and the (then) Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now, Atlanta Hawks) before he was dealt to Boston in 1950.
His stay with the team would span two stints, interrupted by a season with (defunct) Indianapolis Olympians, ending his NBA career in 1953. During his time suiting up for the Celtics, Mahnken wore only jersey No. 16 and put up 3.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
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