Deja Steve

Just like Antoine Walker, he made two stops with the Boston Celtics and made an immediate impact both times.

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Steve Kuberski played a total of seven seasons with Boston (1970-75, 76-78) and was instrumental in helping the Celtics win two NBA Championships (1973-74, 1975-76)

After losing the rights to him when New Orleans drafted him in the NBA expansion draft, the Celtics were able to claim Kuberski off waivers in 1975 and after doing-so won 14 of their next 16 games, the Atlantic Division and an NBA title.

“I think me and Antoine Walker are the only ones to make two stops,” joked Kuberski.

“I was fortunate to be out here and play on two championship teams. A lot of guys who are good players and great players never get to experience that. The sense of accomplishment as a team was more gratifying than any individual award I won. Back then you were just one piece of the puzzle and that’s the way Red Auerbach played the game.”

These days, Kuberski, 57, resides in Winchester, Massachusetts with his wife Diane and the two of them have two sons all grown-up Jason, 33 and Matthew, 24.

“I thought business-wise opportunities were better,” said Kuberski about remaining in the Boston-area. “I really like the east coast and this area in particular. I have friends out here and both the kids were born and raised here. I like the quality of life out here.”

For work, Kuberski is the owner of Pro-Quip Inc. based out of Woburn, MA. His company produces lockers for schools and warehouse products and has done work for most of the new arenas in the Boston area, including the TD Banknorth Garden and Boston College's Conte Forum.

“I was in the Caterpillar Tractor Company when I was in college and was in the Management Training program,” said Kuberski. “That’s how the material handling got started for me.

“When I was done playing I ran a forklift truck dealership for a year and this was something we sold in conjunction with it. I branched out then started my own company and we are 23 years old. We sell everything from school lockers to country club lockers and sell pretty much in the Northeast area.”

Outside of work, Kuberski still enjoys the competition of sports and plays tennis.

“I like golf but I don’t think it’s enough exercise for me right now,” said Kuberski. “I used to run a lot, so tennis takes up some of that and there is a little bit of game to it.”

Kuberski played a total of nine seasons in the NBA spending the majority of it with the Celtics. He also played a season with Milwaukee and 10 games with Buffalo.

As far as the current Celtics, Kuberski knows the fans are hungry for a winner and thinks they can at least win one round in the playoffs this year.

“I think they can win one round,” said Kuberski. “It turns into a half-court game in the playoffs and Detroit plays too strong a defense for them. With Miami I don’t think they can handle Shaq – he’s just too big for them.

“The fans are hungry for a winning season. They won a few games and the place was sold out. I think the fans will really back them if they go to the second round this year.”