Kevin McHale Retirement

A Man With a Thousand Moves

Kevin Edward McHale (born December 19, 1957) is an American former professional basketball player, coach and analyst who played his entire professional career for the Boston Celtics. He earned the nickname "the Torture Chamber" for his exceptional footwork and wide array of post moves which made him nearly impossible to guard one-on-one. Dominique Wilkins famously called him "A Man With a Thousand Moves." He is a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and widely considered one of the greatest power forwards of all time.

Quick Facts

Role:: Power Forward; Center
Championships won:: 3 (1981, 1984, 1986)
Status:: Retired

Lore & Background

McHale was selected third overall in the 1980 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. The pick originally belonged to the Golden State Warriors and was traded to the Celtics in a pre-draft deal. He spent his first five seasons as the sixth man, winning the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 1984 and 1985. After Cedric Maxwell was traded prior to the 1985–1986 season, McHale became a full-time starter alongside Larry Bird and center Robert Parish. He won three NBA championships in 1981, 1984 and 1986. After injuries forced his retirement following the 1992–1993 season, he was later named to both the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.

Reader's Guide

McHale began working for the Minnesota Timberwolves immediately following his retirement in 1993 (until 2009) and at times as a TV analyst, general manager and head coach. He was head coach of the Houston Rockets from 2011 to 2015 until being fired following a 4–7 start to the 2015–16 season.

Did You Know?

McHale was named Minnesota Mr. Basketball in 1976 after leading Hibbing High School to a runner-up finish in the AA state championship.
He set the Celtics' single-game scoring record with 56 points on March 3, 1985, against the Detroit Pistons.
McHale is of Croatian descent on his mother's side and Irish on his father's.
He was selected as the top player in the history of University of Minnesota men's basketball in 1995.