Last Updated on July 18, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Kevin McHale frustrated defenders with an unmatched array of post moves, soft touch around the basket, and the patience to score from virtually any position in the low post. A cornerstone of the Boston Celtics’ championship teams during the 1980s, he paired elite offense with rugged defense to earn recognition as one of the finest power forwards in NBA history.

Here’s a detailed overview of Kevin McHale:

  • Full Name: Kevin Edward McHale
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: December 19, 1957
  • Hometown: Hibbing, Minnesota, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 meters)
  • Weight: 210 pounds (95 kg) during his playing career
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 meters) – known for his exceptionally long arms
  • Shoe Size: Size 16 (US)
  • Number: 32 (Boston Celtics)
  • Position: Power Forward
  • High School: Hibbing High School (Hibbing, Minnesota)
  • College: University of Minnesota
  • NBA Draft: 1980, 1st round, 3rd overall pick (selected by the Boston Celtics via a trade with the Golden State Warriors)
  • Teams Played For:
    • Boston Celtics (1980–1993)
  • Championship Rings: 3 (1981, 1984, 1986 with the Boston Celtics)
  • Kids: Kevin McHale has four children: Kristyn, Michael, Joseph, and Thomas.
  • Siblings: Information about his siblings is not widely documented.
  • Retirement Age: Retired from playing in 1993 at age 35
  • 2K Rating: 95 (Boston Celtics)
  • Net Worth: Made $14,200,000 in the NBA

The player archetype of Kevin McHale was a low-post scoring power forward whose footwork and creativity made him one of the toughest interior matchups of his era. Armed with exceptionally long arms and remarkable balance, he scored through an endless collection of pivots, up-and-unders, hooks, and counters that often left defenders guessing. McHale also provided strong interior defense, using his length to contest shots, protect the rim, and bother opposing forwards without relying on overwhelming size. Rather than dominating the ball, he thrived within Boston’s team-oriented offense, consistently producing efficient scoring while complementing the Celtics’ other stars with disciplined, highly effective play.

Notes:

  • Kevin McHale has been an NBA coach for the Houston Rockets. He coached the Rockets during the James Harden and Dwight Howard era. McHale coached the Rockets for 4 seasons (2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-24, 2014-15,) and was fired after a slow start in the 2015-16 season by then-general manager Daryl Morey after a rocky relationship between fans, coaches, and players. I watched the Rockets during this era and many fans weren’t pleased with McHale’s rotations. This was also during the beginning of the Facebook chat era, so disgruntled fans were amplified more than usual. Not long after McHale was fired, professional sports teams usually blocked off access to fans chatting on the walls of pages, so McHale was unlucky in that regard.
  • Kevin McHale was the coach during the time Jeremy Lin was playing for the Houston Rockets. Lin’s fans were often critical of McHale.

Player Insights

Kevin McHale was a part of many people’s favorite basketball team, the 80s and early 90s Boston Celtics. McHale played alongside superstars such as Larry Bird. He was a pioneer of low post moves and complimented Larry Bird well. Bird’s success didn’t come without Mchale, and McHale’s success didn’t come without Bird. Unlike Bird, McHale rarely shot outside shots; all of his scoring was done in the key. McHale wasn’t overly athletic but had tremendous footwork that helped him beat defenders.