Best Players in Boston Celtics History
The Boston Celtics are among the most successful teams in the NBA, with 17 Championship titles in their franchise history. Over the years, some of the best players in NBA history have played for the Boston Celtics.
From Larry Bird to Paul Pierce, Bill Russell to John Havlicek, NBA greats have dominated the league donning their colors. Here are the best players in Boston Celtics history based on their performances and achievements for the franchise. The Statistics in this article are taken from the NBA.
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Best Players in Boston Celtics History
Here are the best players in Boston Celtics history:
1. Bill Russell
The player with the most rings in NBA history is Celtics legend, Bill Russell. Russell played the entirety of his professional career for the Boston Celtics. Incredible yet true, across his 13 seasons in the NBA from 1956 to 1969. Russell won 11 Championship titles.
The legendary Center is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and the cornerstone of the Celtics dynasty. Named an all-star in 12 seasons out of 13 during his time in the NBA, Bill Russell dominated the courts with a regal grace of his own.
Russell holds the record for the second-most number of NBA MVPs behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s six. One of the best players of his generation and an all-time great, Bill Russell scored 14,522 points, 21,620 rebounds and 4,100 assists in his NBA career. Russell retired in 1969 after winning the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
2. Larry Bird
One of the most beloved Celtics players of all time, Larry Bird may not have won a handful of NBA rings but his dazzling on-court performances are what made him an era-defining Celtics legend. Like Russell, Larry spent the entirety of his NBA career with the Boston Celtics from 1979 to 1992.
He won three Championships with the franchise, leading them to five Finals during his career. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time, Bird’s iconic rivalry with Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson is one of the most legendary duels in NBA history.
Larry Legend won two NBA Finals MVPs and three regular-season MVPs with the Celtics. He scored 21,791 points, 8,974 rebounds and 5,695 assists for the franchise. A 12-time all-star, Bird retired in 1992, ending his illustrious NBA career.
3. John Havlicek
John Havlicek is undoubtedly one of the greatest players in Boston Celtics history. His shimmering record of winning eight out of eight NBA Finals is one for the ages. John Havlicek spent his entire NBA career with the Celtics from 1962 to 1978.
He won four back-to-back Championships with the franchise right from his debut season. He would then play eight NBA Finals with his team, winning every single one of the Finals series. Havlicek was named the Finals MVP in 1974 for his dazzling performance against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Known for his exceptional scoring prowess and excellent defensive skills, he holds the highest scoring record in franchise history, having amassed 26,395 points, 8,007 rebounds and 6,114 assists. Havlicek was named an all-star 13 times during his 16 seasons in the NBA. He retired in 1978.
4. Paul Pierce
One of the greatest small forwards of his generation, Paul Pierce spent 15 seasons with the Boston Celtics from 1998 to 2013. An exceptional all-round player, Pierce is widely regarded as one of the best players in Boston Celtics history.
He led the franchise to the 2008 NBA Championship against the Los Angeles Lakers and was named Finals MVP. He was a 10-time all-star during his 15 seasons with the Celtics. Pierce would then play for the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and LA Clippers, where he retired in 2017.
With 24,021 points for the Celtics, Paul Pierce is the second-highest scorer in their franchise history. Pierce scored 26,397 points, 7,527 rebounds and 4,708 assists in his NBA career.
5. Kevin McHale
One of the greatest power forwards of all-time, Kevin McHale played the entirety of his NBA career for the Boston Celtics. Although McHale spent the first few seasons with the Celtics coming off the bench, his impact on the squad was immensely valuable.
He would then go on to form one of the most iconic front-line in NBA history alongside Larry Bird and Robert Parish. During his career, Kevin McHale won three NBA Championships and is considered among the best players in Boston Celtics history.
Out of the 13 seasons he played in the NBA, he was named an all-star on seven occasions. He scored 17,335 points, 7,122 rebounds and 1,690 blocks during his time in the NBA. McHale retired in 1993 at the age of 35.
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