The Boston Celtics All-Time GOAT Pyramid

With 17 NBA titles, the Boston Celtics are one of the most successful and historic franchises in the entire NBA. The Celtics have been atop the NBA hierarchy since their dynasty days during the late 1950s and the entire 1960s. During that time, the Celtics won 11 championships in 13 seasons and have been winning ever since. They added 2 more titles in the 1970s with Dave Cowens and John Havlicek and another 3 titles in the 80s behind the greatness of Larry Bird. Their 17th championship came in 2008 when Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen came together to bring the championship back to Boston.

The Celtics have had a legendary roster of players come through and play for their franchise. Today, we will attempt to honor these legends by placing them into tiers in our GOAT pyramid, just as we did with the Bulls and Knicks last week. We know who the top players are in Celtics history, but how does the rest of the pyramid shape out? Well, it will be filled with MVPs, All-Stars, and NBA champions as we dive deeper into the makeup of one of the greatest franchises in sports history. 

This is the Boston Celtics’ all-time GOAT pyramid. 

Tier 5

Cedric Maxwell, Bailey Howell, Jaylen Brown, Isaiah Thomas, Ray Allen, Reggie Lewis, Don Nelson, Frank Ramsey, K.C. Jones, Danny Ainge, Paul Silas, Antoine Walker, Ed Macauley

The first tier on the Celtics GOAT pyramid is filled with Hall of Famers, All-Stars, and NBA champions. The first player we will acknowledge is former Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell. He played for Boston for 8 seasons from 1978 through 1985 and led the league in field goal percentage twice. He was a member of 2 NBA championship teams with the Celtics, including a special NBA title for him in 1981. Maxwell was named the Finals MVP in the 1981 Finals when he averaged 17.7 PPG and 9.5 RPG for the series, including a 28-point, 15-rebound performance in Game 5 to give Boston the advantage.

Bailey Howell did not make his way to Boston until he was 30 years old and 8 seasons into his NBA career. In his first years with the Celtics, Howell was named an All-Star with 20.0 PPG and 8.4 RPG as the team’s power forward next to Bill Russell. Howell helped the Celtics win back-to-back championships in 1968 and 1969, averaging 16.6 PPG and 7.1 RPG over those 2 playoff runs. Howell would spend 4 seasons in Boston before retiring after the 1971 season with the 76ers.

For the past 7 seasons, we have watched Jaylen Brown go from one of the most underrated players in the NBA to one of the most respected. Brown finally began to get recognition for his play during the 2020-21 season when he was named to his first and only All-Star team averaging 24.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 1.2 SPG. Since 2020, Brown has averaged 23.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 1.1 SPG for the Celtics and helped them become one of the more successful teams in the league. Brown helped lead the Celtics to the 2022 NBA Finals with a playoff run of 23.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 1.1 SPG.

One of the best stories over the past few seasons was Isaiah Thomas’ time with the Celtics in 2017 and 2018. Thomas had one of the more incredible seasons in 2017 when he was named to the All-NBA Second Team and finished 5th in MVP voting. He averaged 28.9 PPG that season and helped the Celtics reach the playoffs with a 53-29 record overall. After losing his sister in a tragic car accident, Thomas put on one of the most emotional and inspiring performances in NBA history when he scored 33 points and led Boston to a playoff win over the Bulls.

For most of his career leading up to 2008, Ray Allen was known as one of the best shooting guards in basketball who could never get over the proverbial championship hump. Allen was a sharpshooter from everywhere on the court and had an athletic side to him that made him a dangerous defensive assignment. When he arrived along with Kevin Garnett in 2008, Allen helped lead the Celtics to their first NBA championship since the 1980s. In his 5 seasons with the Celtics, Allen was named an All-Star 3 times and averaged 16.7 PPG while shooting 40.9% from three.

Reggie Lewis was a promising young star for the Boston Celtics during the late 80s and early 90s. Lewis would play just 6 seasons in the NBA for the Celtics before passing away tragically at the age of 27. Lewis passed away while practicing with the Celtics in the 1993 offseason. He had developed into an All-Starduring the 1992 season when he averaged 20.8 PPG on 50.3% shooting. He would average 20.8 PPG again the following season but miss out on the mid-season fun. Lewis was headed for greatness with Boston up until his death and will always be remembered by Boston fans and the organization.

Don Nelson is fondly remembered as one of the better coaches in NBA history. Nelson played 11 seasons with the Celtics during the 60s and 70s and was a member of 5 different championship teams. Nelson’s best season with the Celtics came in 1970 when he averaged 15.4 PPG and 7.3 RPG on the season. He also averaged 11.1 PPG and 4.8 RPG in his playoff career with the Celtics and was a key part of 5 title runs.

Frank Ramsey was a guard/forward during the 50s and 60s for the Celtics. Ramsey was a consistent scorer and decent rebounder during his days with the teams averaging 13.4 PPG and 5.5 RPG in his 9-year career with the team. After his rookie season, Ramsey took one year off to serve in the United States Army. The year he came back, the Celtics won the 1957 NBA championship. They won again in 1959, with Ramsey averaging 23.2 PPG in the playoffs. Ramsey would win 6 straight titles with the Celtics to end his career from 1959 through 1964.

As a coach and player, K.C. Jones is etched into the game’s history forever. Aside from Bill Russell, Jones is one of 2 African-American coaches to win multiple NBA championships with the Celtics. Jones was never an All-Star or a double-digit scorer, but he did the less glamorous dirty work that teammates came to love and respect. Jones played his entire 9-year career with Boston and won 8 NBA championships doing so. For his career, Jones averaged 7.4 PPG and 4.3 APG with the Celtics and shot 38.7% from the field.

During the 80s and 90s, there was no bigger spark plug for any one team than Danny Ainge was for the Celtics. Ainge had no fear and no qualms about getting his hands dirty with the Celtics during his career and truly embodied the spirit of the city. Ainge played with the Celtics from 1982 through 1989, being traded during the 1990 season. He was named an All-Satr in 1988, averaging 15.7 PPG, 6.2 APG, and 1.4 SPG. He was also the starting point guard for both the 1984 and 1986 championship teams alongside Larry Bird.

The basketball world was rocked earlier this month as we lost one of the best coaches and all-around people in the game’s history, Paul Silas. Paul Silas played 4 seasons with the Celtics from 1973 through 1976. He was named an All-Star in 1975, playing all 82 games and averaging 10.6 PPG and 12.5 RPG on the season. Silas helped the Celtics to win 2 NBA championships in 1974 and 1976, playing all 18 games en route to the title. Silas’ coaching is historic, but his play with Boston shall never be forgotten, either.

Antoine Walker is another Celtics legend who just missed out on the championship festivities that began in 2008. Walker played with the Celtics from 1997 through 2003. He was named an All-Star 3 times, including back-to-back seasons in 2002 and 2003. He was a consistent scorer, although inefficient, averaging 20.6 PPG and 8.7 RPG on 41.3% shooting during his career in Boston. Walker helped the Celtics reach the playoffs 3 times during his career, including an Eastern Conference Finals berth in 2002.

The final member of Tier 5 is Ed Macauley. During the 1950s, Macauley played 6 seasons with the Celtics from 1951 through 1956, being named an All-Star every season with the team. Over that course of time, Macaulay averaged 18.9 PPG and 8.1 RPG for the Celtics. He was named to the All-NBA First Team 3 times and the All-NBA Second Team once. Macaulay did not get to be a part of the Celtics championship teams that came about a bit later in his career, but he did defeat them in the 1958 NBA Finals with the St. Louis Hawks.

Tier 4

Jo Jo White, Tom Heinsohn, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Nate Archibald, Dennis Johnson, Jayson Tatum

Tier 4 kicks off with a former Finals MVP and Hall Of Famer, Jo Jo White. For 8 and a half seasons, White took the floor for the Celtics during the 70s alongside John Havlicek and Dave Cowens. White was named an All-Star for 7 straight seasons with Boston from 1971 through 1977. Over that time, he averaged 19.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 5.5 APG, and 1.4 SPG. White won 2 NBA championships with the Celtics and was named Finals MVP in 1976 when he averaged 21.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 5.8 APG in a win over the Suns.

Tom Heinsohn was a forward who spent his entire 9-year career with the Boston Celtics. Heinsohn could score the ball extremely well and was an avid rebounder to boot. Heinsohn made 6 All-Star teams in 9 seasons with Boston and averaged 18.6 PPG and 8.8 RPG for his career. Between 1957 and 1965, Heinsohn helped the Celtics win 8 NBA championships in 9 seasons. He was the 1957 Rookie of the Year as well as a member of 4 All-NBA Second teams in a row from 1961 through 1964.

For 6 seasons between 2008 and 2013, Kevin Garnett served as the heart and soul of the Boston Celtics. His energy and passion for the game were unmatched, as he openly showed every time he stepped on the court. Garnett was traded to the Celtics for the 2008 season and made an immediate impact upon his arrival. He was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in his first season in Boston and helped lead the Celtics to an NBA championship that year as well. Garnett would make 5 All-Star Teams, 4 All-Defensive Teams, and 1 All-NBA First Team during his time in Boston.

Rajon Rondo is one of the great playmakers in NBA history. His basketball IQ was second to few during his time with the Celtics, and as a passer, nobody did it better. Rondo played with the Celtics from 2007 through 2014 and was traded partway through the 2015 season. He made 4 All-Star teams, 4 All-Defensive Teams, and 1 All-NBA Team during his time in Boston as well. In his 2nd professional season, Rondo helped the Celtics win the NBA championship when he averaged 10.2 PPG, 6.6 APG, and 1.7 SPG in the 2008 playoffs. He ranks 4th in Celtics history in assists and 3rd in steals.

Nate Archibald is one of the great point guards of the early days of the NBA. Archibald is the last player in NBA history to lead the NBA in both points and assists in the same season. When he got to Boston, Archibald was far from the player he was when he accomplished that feat but was still an impactful player toward Boston’s success. Archibald was with Boston from 1979 through 1983 and was named an All-Star 3 years straight from 1980 through 1982. In those 3 seasons, he averaged 13.6PPG, 8.0 APG, and 1.0 SPG. He helped Boston win the 1981 NBA Finals as the starting point guard and averaged 10.3 PPG and 5.5 APG in the Finals to capture his only title.

Dennis Johnson is perhaps one of the most underrated players in NBA history. Johnson played the final 7 seasons of his career in Boston, where he won 2 NBA championships as the starting point/shooting guard. Johnson was an All-Star just once with Boston in 1985, when he averaged 15.7 PPG, 6.8 APG, and 1.4 SPG. Johnson’s impact was felt ferociously in both the 1984 and 1986 championships runs, averaging 16.2 PPG, 5.9 APG, and 2.2 SPG in the 1986 playoffs.

The final member of Tier 4 is a player who still has plenty of time to make his way up this pyramid. Jayson Tatum is one of the best young players in basketball. He is currently leading the MVP race in 2022-23, one season after leading Boston to their first NBA Finals since 2010. Although not victorious, it is clear that the future is bright for the young start in Beantown. Tatum has already etched his name into Boston’s history books with 3 All-Starselections and 2 All-NBA selections in 6 seasons in the NBA. Over the last 3 seasons, Tatum has averaged 27.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 4.3 APG, and 1.1 SPG. It is clear that a title should be in the future for Tatum as long as Boston remains his home.

Tier 3

Kevin McHale, Dave Cowens, Sam Jones, Robert Parish, Bill Sharman

One of the great power forwards in the game’s history kicks off Tier 3 with Kevin McHale starting us off. McHale was a master of his craft on the offensive end, where he used a wide array of post moves to stun opponents. McHale played all 13 seasons of his career in Boston and began his career as one of the best players off the bench in the league. He won 2 Sixth Man of the Year awards with the Celtics before becoming a full-time starter in 1986. McHale helped Boston win 3 NBA titles in his 13 years. He was a 7-time All-Star, 6-time All-Defensive Team selection, and a 1-time All-NBA Team selection as well.

Another player who flies under the radar outside of the City Of Boston is former MVP Dave Cowens. As another Boston lifer, Cowens played nearly his entire career with the Celtics, aside from his final season in 1983 with the Bucks. Cowens won 2 NBA championships with the Celtics in 1974 and 1976. Cowens was named the MVP in 1973 when he averaged 20.5 PPG and 16.2 RPG. Along with his other accolades, Cowens was named an All-Star 8 times, All-NBA 3 times, All-Defensive 3 times, and Rookie of the Year in 1971.

Sam Jones is one of the lesser-appreciated shooting guards in NBA history. Jones won 10 NBA championships with the Celtics from 1958 through 1969 and was an All-Star 5 times as well. Jones peaked with the Celtics during the 1964-65 season when he averaged a career-high 25.9 PPG on 45.2% shooting. He was also selected to 3 straight All-NBA Second Teams from 1965 through 1967, when he averaged 23.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 3.0 APG over that time.

One of the toughest and longest-playing big men in NBA history comes in on Tier 3 for the Celtics. Robert Parish, otherwise known as Chief, was a hard-nosed center for the Celtics during the 80s and 90s. He helped the team win 3 NBA titles during his 14 years in Boston while being named to 9 All-Star teams. From 1981 through 1987, Parish went to 7 straight All-Star games averaging 17.9 PPG, 10.1 RPG, and 1.8 BPG. He was also named to 2 All-NBA teams in his career with Boston and is easily one of their greatest players in franchise history.

The final member of Tier 3 goes to a man who played 10 seasons with the Celtics during the 50s and early 60s. Bill Sharman was known for a smooth jumper that was basically automatic by his era’s standards. Sharman led the NBA in free throw percentage 6 times with the Celtics and was named to 8 straight All-Star games from 1953 through 1960. He won 4 NBA titles as a member of the Celtics and was named to 7 All-NBA Teams. In his 8 straight All-Star seasons, Sharman averaged 19.1 PPG on 43.1% shooting from the floor.

Tier 2

John Havlicek, Bob Cousy, Paul Pierce

Tier 2 is when we begin to get to the elite of the elite in Boston Celtics history. We kick things off with one of the best players during the 60s and 70s, John Havlicek. Havlicek broke into the NBA as a bench player fighting for minutes on the Celtics, and he did in record time. Havlicek would win 8 NBA titles with the Celtics and be selected to 13 straight All-Star games between 1966 and 1978. Hondo would go on to win Finals MVP of the 1974 NBA Finals with 26.4 PPG and 7.7 RPG in a 7-game series win over Kareem and the Bucks. Havlicek was also an 8-time All-Defensive Team selection and 11-time All-NBA Team selection.

Next up is the man they called The Houdini of the Hardwood. Bob Cousy was an innovative and flashy point guard for the Celtics during the 50s and 60s who revolutionized the point guard position. Cousy played 13 seasons with the Celtics from 1951 through 1963 and was named an All-Star every year. He led the NBA in assists for 8 straight seasons from 1953 through 1960 and still holds the franchise record in that department. Cousy won 6 NBA titles with Boston as well as the 1957 MVP award when he averaged 20.6 PPG and 7.5 APG. He was a member of 12 All-NBA Teams as well as a 2-time All-Star Game MVP.

The final member of Tier 2 should not be controversial in the slightest. Paul Pierce embraced and captured the essence of Boston during the 15 seasons he spent in the city. The fans embraced him as well, as he became one of the most popular personalities in Celtics history. Pierce led the Celtics to the 2008 NBA title and was named Finals MVP in a series win over Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Pierce was also named an All-Star 10 times and to 4 All-NBA Teams during his long career in Boston.

Tier 1

Bill Russell, Larry Bird

The final Tier for our Celtics GOAT pyramid includes the 2 greatest players in Celtics history. These 2 players are so accomplished and so legendary that it is only right they share the top spot. Bill Russell played just 13 seasons in the NBA and won 11 championships during that time. While he became the greatest winner in NBA history, he also became one of the game’s best defenders and rebounders of all time. Russell won 5 rebounding titles in his career and was so dominant in the NBA Finals that they named the Finals MVP award after him. Not only was Russell a great player, but a great person as well who spent his time off the court fighting injustices around the country.

The final player on our Boston Celtics GOAT pyramid is one of the 5 best players in NBA history, Larry Bird. During the 80s, Bird’s rivalry with the Lakers and Magic Johnson is credited with saving a game that was dying amongst fans. Bird could do it all at an elite level on the court, winning 3 straight MVPs from 1984 through 1986. He also led the Celtics to 3 NBA titles and was named Finals MVP for 2 of them in 1984 and 1986. He was an All-Star 12 out of 13 seasons in the NBA and won Rookie of the Year as well as 10 All-NBA Team selections and 3 All-Defensive Team selections. As far as GOATs in Boston go, Larry Bird and Bill Russell are the creams of the crop. 

We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.

Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.

Next

10 Greatest Boston Celtics Players Of All Time

Boston Celtics All-Time Team: Starting Lineup, Bench, And Coach

The Top 10 Most Lopsided Trades In NBA History

Every NBA Team’s Greatest Acquisition (Via Trade Or Free Agency)

10 NBA Stars Who Have Beaten The Most 50-Win Teams In Playoffs History