on December 9, 1987. Gamble then headed to the Continental Basketball Association for the Quad City Thunder, where he averaged 21.1 points per game (ppg) with the team in 1988. Gamble then played in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Añejo Rum 65 in the spring and Chicago Express of the World Basketball League in the summer of 1988. Later career (1988–1996) In the fall of 1988, Gamble returned to the Quad City Thunder and scored 27.8 points in a 12-game stint with the team. On December 15, the Boston Celtics signed Gamble after Larry Bird was injured. Initially a reserve, Gamble started the final six games, where he scored over 15 points and played over 30 minutes per game. In his debut start with the Celtics, a 113–104 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 14, 1989, Gamble had a double-double with 20 points and 10 assists, in addition to grabbing seven rebounds. Gamble played in one playoff game before going down with an injury; the Celtics were swept by the Detroit Pistons in the first round. Gamble played in 71 games the following season, 1989–1990, averaging 5.1 points in 13.9 minutes-per-game. After seeing spot duty for two seasons, Gamble assumed a major role with Boston in 1990–91. Gamble played in every game, including 76 starts, and averaged 15.6 points (fourth on the team, behind Bird, Reggie Lewis and Kevin McHale) in 33 minutes per game and helped the Celtics to a 56–26 record and a return to first place in the Atlantic Division. His 58.7% shooting percentage was third-best in the NBA. He also placed second to Scott Skiles of Orlando in the voting for the NBA Most Improved Player Award, the closest finish in the history of the award, with a winning margin of four votes. Gamble's minutes were cut dramatically in the playoffs and he averaged just six points per game against the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons. Gamble played in all 82 games the next season, starting 77 of them, but the Celtics were eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs. He then saw his starting time drop dramatically in his final two seasons in Boston, playing in 75 games but starting only 29 in 1994. Following the season, Gamble signed a free agent contract with the Miami Heat, playing in 44 games (starting 13) before a late February 1996