Danny Ainge

Danny Ainge is a former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association. He also served as NBA Coach and later on was an NBA Executive. He won an NBA Championship as a player twice in 1984 and again in 1986, with the Boston Celtics. As an executive for the Boston Celtics, he won it in 2008. In that year, he was also named the NBA Executive of the Year.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Daniel Ray Ainge was born on March 17, 1959, in Eugene, Oregon in the United States. He stands 196 cm tall and his weight was last listed at 86 kg. He plays shooting guard and shoots right-handed.

He is married to his wife Michelle and they have six children together including Austin Ainge who is a coach and executive in the NBA and politician Tanner Ainge. He is also the uncle to Erik Ainge who plays in the NFL and Jake Toolson who is an NBA Player.

In 2009, he suffered a minor heart attack. He and his family are members of the Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter-Day Saints.

High School and College Career

He attended North Eugene High School. There, he was named to the Second-Team Parade All-American. For college, he committed to play for Brigham Young University and was part of the team from 1977 to 1981.

While in college, he was named the 1981 WAC Player of the year. He also received a John R. Wooded Award and was the NABC Player of the Year for 1981. The BYU Cougars retired Jersey Number 22 in his honor.

Professional Career

Ainge joined the NBA during the 1981 NBA Draft, selected by the Boston Celtics as the 31st overall in the second round. He played with Boston for 9 years from 1981 to 1989. In 1988, he was named an NBA All-Star. He was also with Boston when they won the 1984 and 1986 NBA Championships.

After his career with Boston, he signed and played for a season with the Sacramento Kings. Later, he would play two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. In 1992, he signed with the Phoenix Suns and played with them through to 1995. He retired in 1995 and from 1996 to 1999, he served as the coach for the Suns.

In 2003, he became an executive for the Boston Celtics. While with them, he saw the team win the 2008 NBA Championships. He was also named that year’s NBA Executive of the Year. In 2021, he took on the executive job for the Utah Jazz.

Career Highlights

Player:

• NBA champion - 1984, 1986
• NBA All-Star - 1988
• John R. Wooden Award - 1981
• NABC Player of the Year - 1981
• Consensus first-team All-American -

1981

• Third-team All-American – NABC -

1980

• Fourth-team All-American – NABC -

1979

• WAC Player of the Year - 1981
• 4× First-team All-WAC - 1978–1981
• No. 22 retired by BYU Cougars
• Second-team Parade All-American -

1977

Executive:

• NBA champion - 2008
• NBA Executive of the Year - 2008

Team History:

Coach:

• 1996–1999 - Phoenix Suns