The Boston Celtics’ all-time starting five features some of the greatest players in the NBA’s history.
The Boston Celtics are one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises. They have won the most championships in the league’s history with 18, making them the NBA’s most successful franchise.
A long list of the NBA’s greatest ever players have suited up in Boston green. A star-studded cast of players forms an unbeatable all-time Celtics starting five…
Point Guard: Bob Cousy
Championships: 6
Career stats: 18.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 7.5 APG,
Career accomplishments: 1x MVP, 13x All-Star, 12x All-NBA, 8x NBA assists leader
Bob Cousy was definitely the best playmaker of his generation. He led the NBA in assists for eight straight seasons between 1953 and 1960, winning league MVP in 1957. To this day, Cousy is the Boston Celtics’ franchise leader in assists with 6,945.
He was an integral part of the Celtics’ dominance in the early 60s, and the rightful point guard for the Boston Celtics’ all-time team.
Shooting guard: John Havlicek
Championships: 8
Career stats: 20.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.8 APG,
Career accomplishments: 1x Finals MVP, 13x All-Star, 11x All-NBA, 8x All-Defence
In his 16 seasons suiting up for the Celtics, John Havlicek won eight championships (two without the great Bill Russell) and claimed Finals MVP in 1974.
Havlicek is the longest-tenured Celtic of all time. He leads the franchise in games and minutes played, and he leads the franchise’s all-time ranks in points (26,395) and field goals.
His standing in Celtics history and contributions to their championships mean Havlicek earns his place in Boston’s all-time starting lineup.
Small forward: Larry Bird
Championships: 3
Career stats: 24.3 PPG, 10 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Career accomplishments: 2x Finals MVP, 3x MVP, 12x All-Star, 10x All-NBA, 3x All-Defence
Larry Bird is in the discussion for being the greatest Celtic of all time. In his 13 seasons with the Celtics, Bird was a three-time champion and 12-time All-Star. He is the only player to ever win the MVP award in three straight seasons.
Bird is the Celtics’ all-time leader in triple-doubles with 59, and was the greatest shooter of his era. Along with Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson, he was the face of the league in the 80s, creating an iconic era of NBA basketball as the Lakers and Celtics duelled for titles.
Bird is one of the 10 greatest players of all time, and no Celtics list is complete without “Larry Legend”.
Power forward: Kevin Garnett
Championships: 1
Career stats: 17.8 PPG, 10 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.4 BPG
Career accomplishments: 1x MVP, 15x All-Star, 9x All-NBA, 1x Defensive Player of the Year, 12x All-Defence, 4x Rebounding champion
While Kevin Garnett won his MVP with the Minnesota Timberwolves, “The Big Ticket” played a pivotal role in bringing the first NBA championship since Bird to Boston.
He is one of the greatest defenders and rebounders in NBA history, winning the defensive player of the year award with the Celtics in 2008, on his way to the championship. Boston beat their historic rivals, the Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant, to secure the ring.
His career averages are hurt by the fact that he came straight out of high-school and played 21 years in the NBA. He is on the short list of players who were the best defenders in the NBA and could drop 30 points on the other end.
Centre: Bill Russell
Championships: 11
Career stats: 15.1 PPG, 22.5 RPG, 4.3 APG
Career accomplishments: 5x MVP, 12x All-Star, 11x All-NBA, 1x All-Defence, 4x Rebounding champion
Count the rings. Bill Russell is the most decorated player in NBA history with 11 championships to his name. His individual accolades don’t match up to the other players on this list, but that’s simply because they weren’t invented at the start of his career. Instead, he settled for having the Finals MVP Trophy named after him.
Russell went to 12 NBA Finals as a Celtic, two as a player/coach. He lost only once in the Finals. He averaged only 15 points per game, but the value he brought as a leader, and an elite defender and rebounder, make him a top-10 player of all-time.
The Celtics won the championship with Russell in his rookie season, and went on to win the next seven. He averaged 25 rebounds per game in the playoffs during his career.
Russell is the Celtics’ all-time leader in rebounds and minutes per game, and the no-doubt centre in Boston’s all-time starting five.