Walton was coaching a Montreal all-star team he'd assembled to play New Mexico State when the NCAA school was touring in Canada one summer. Birch showed up for the game, dressed ready to play. Walton had never seen the 6-10 Birch, nor even heard of him."We got off to a slow start, we're down early in the game, my assistant coach turns to me and says 'Listen Dwight, put Khem in,'" Walton said."So I reluctantly subbed Khem in.
"Let's call it as it is, the Ontario players are always the ones who get the spotlight, and to have two Quebecers in the NBA playoffs, from Montreal, it's big-time for me, and I'm very proud." "I feel like being on the team this time and not on a two-way I'm really going to feel more and really try to enjoy the atmosphere, especially in Canada . . . since it's the only team Canada has," said Boucher, who was on a two-way deal last season with NBA champions Golden State.
While both Boucher and Birch are 26, they travelled markedly different paths to the NBA. Boucher recalls playing against Birch a couple of times when he was still playing AAU ball and Birch was already in college. He went undrafted after tearing his ACL in the conference semifinals with the Oregon Ducks, but never gave up hope.