Top 10 Players Of Boston Celtics Club

Boston Celtics is an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league’s Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of the league’s original eight teams, the team play their home games at TD Garden, which they share with the National Hockey League (NHL)’s Boston Bruins. The Celtics are one of the most successful teams in NBA history; winning a record seventeen NBA championships, which includes eight consecutive wins from 1959 to 1966, and eleven more since 1986.

As of June 2019, the Celtics have the second most overall wins in the NBA history, behind only their cross-town rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers. They also maintain rivalries with other NBA teams, such as the New York Knicks and Miami Heat. The team’s name originates from the original professional basketball team in Boston, formed in 1946. Their mascot ‘Lucky the Leprechaun’ was inspired by a popular cheerleader at Boston College. Hall of Fame players Bill Russell and John Havlicek have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as players, while Harvard graduate Red Auerbach was inducted as a coach. Eight former players have been inducted into the Basketball Hall of James Naismith; Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, Sam Jones, K. C. Jones, Tom Heinsohn, John Havlicek, Jo Jo White, and Paul Pierce. Notable players who didn’t win a championship include Reggie Lewis, Len Bias, and Rick Robey.

1) Bill Russell

Standing at 6-foot-10, Bill Russell was the cornerstone of the Boston Celtics dynasty of the 1950s and 1960s. He was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in 1956 but after he refused to report, he was traded to the Celtics for Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan. It was one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history as Russell went on to be a 12-time All-Star and a five-time MVP while leading the Celtics to 11 championships in 13 seasons. He was also a two-time NCAA champion with the University of San Francisco and won a gold medal with the United States at the 1956 Summer Olympics.

2) Larry Bird

A native of Indiana, Larry Bird was drafted sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978 after a storied college career with Indiana State University. He immediately made an impact, winning Rookie of the Year honors while leading the Celtics to the NBA Finals. He would go on to win three MVP awards and three championships with the Celtics, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in team history. A 12-time All-Star and a member of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list, Bird was also named one of the 10 Greatest Coaches in NBA history after leading the Indiana Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1998.

3) Bob Cousy

One of the first superstars in NBA history, Bob Cousy was a six-time All-Star and a 13-time member of the All-NBA team during his 14 seasons with the Boston Celtics. He was drafted third overall by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in 1950 but after one season he was traded to the Celtics for cash. He would go on to play an integral role in the Celtics’ dynasty of the 1950s and 1960s, winning six championships while being named league MVP in 1957. Cousy’s number 14 is retired by the Celtics and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971.

4) Kevin McHale

A versatile power forward/center, Kevin McHale was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the third overall pick in the 1980 NBA Draft. He would go on to play his entire 13-season career with the Celtics, winning three championships while being named to seven All-Star teams. A two-time All-NBA selection, McHale was named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time team in 1996 and he had his number 32 retired by the Celtics in 1994. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.

5) Paul Pierce

A native of Los Angeles, Paul Pierce was drafted 10th overall by the Boston Celtics in 1998 after a successful college career at Kansas. He would go on to play 15 seasons with the Celtics, becoming the franchise’s second all-time leading scorer while being named to 10 All-Star teams. He won an NBA championship with the Celtics in 2008 and was named the Finals MVP after averaging 21.8 points per game. Pierce’s number 34 is retired by the Celtics and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.

6) Sam Jones

A five-time NBA champion, Sam Jones was drafted seventh overall by the Boston Celtics in 1957 after a successful college career at North Carolina Central University. He would go on to play his entire 12-season career with the Celtics, winning two NBA Finals MVP awards while being named to 10 All-Star teams. His number 24 is retired by the Celtics and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.

7) Jo Jo White

A two-time NBA champion, Jo Jo White was drafted ninth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1969 after a successful college career at Kansas. He would go on to play 10 seasons with the Celtics, being named to seven All-Star teams while winning an NBA Finals MVP award in 1976. His number 10 is retired by the Celtics and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

8) John Havlicek

One of the most versatile players in NBA history, John Havlicek was drafted seventh overall by the Boston Celtics in 1962 after a successful college career at Ohio State. He would go on to play his entire 16-season career with the Celtics, winning eight championships while being named to 13 All-Star teams. A two-time NBA Finals MVP, Havlicek is the Celtics’ all-time leading scorer and his number 17 is retired by the team. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.

9) Bill Russell

One of the greatest players in NBA history, Bill Russell was drafted second overall by the Boston Celtics in 1956 after a successful college career at San Francisco. He would go on to play his entire 13-season career with the Celtics, winning 11 championships while being named league MVP five times. A two-time NBA Finals MVP, Russell was named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time team in 1996 and his number 6 is retired by the Celtics. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975.

10) Larry Bird

One of the greatest shooters in NBA history, Larry Bird was drafted sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978 after a successful college career at Indiana State. He would go on to play his entire 13-season career with the Celtics, winning three championships while being named league MVP three times. A 12-time All-Star, Bird was named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time team in 1996 and his number 33 is retired by the Celtics. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998.

These are the top 10 players in Boston Celtics history. These players havemade significant contributions to the team and have helped cement the Celtics’ legacy as one of the greatest teams in NBA history.