Top 36 Boston Celtics Players of All Time

Seven decades of Celtic greatness — dynasty builders from the 1960s, championship architects of the 80s, and 2024 title heroes all share the floor here. Who's the greatest ever?

1. 1
   Bill Russell

   The centerpiece of Boston's 1960s dynasty, Russell won 11 NBA championships and 5 MVP awards, redefining defensive excellence and team leadership forever.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Ray Allen

   Ray Allen's clutch three-point shooting and championship pedigree were vital to Boston's 2008 title, and he retired as the NBA's all-time leader in three-pointers made.
   769pts
3. 3
   Larry Bird

   A three-time NBA champion and three-time MVP, Bird's complete game — scoring, passing, defense — made him one of the greatest forwards in league history and a Celtics icon.
   769pts
4. 4
   Kevin McHale

   McHale's unstoppable array of low-post moves made him one of the most skilled big men in NBA history; he was a crucial part of three Celtic championships in the 1980s.
   713pts
5. 5
   Ed Macauley

   Hall of Fame center who made six straight All-Star teams in Boston from 1951, then was traded to St. Louis for the draft rights to Bill Russell.
   646pts
6. 6
   Jo Jo White

   Seven-time All-Star guard who won titles in 1974 and 1976, earning Finals MVP in 1976 after starring in the famous triple-overtime Game 5.
   646pts
7. 7
   Bob Cousy

   Nicknamed 'The Houdini of the Hardwood,' Cousy revolutionized the point guard position with dazzling playmaking and won six championships as the engine of the early Celtics dynasty.
   607pts
8. 8
   Danny Ainge

   Fiery guard on the 1984 and 1986 championship teams who later, as president of basketball operations, built the 2008 title side.
   607pts
9. 9
   Paul Pierce

   Known as 'The Truth,' Pierce spent 15 seasons as the Celtics' cornerstone, was named Finals MVP in 2008, and sits among the franchise's all-time leaders in points scored.
   564pts
10. 10
    Marcus Smart

    Gritty guard drafted in 2014 who in 2022 became the first guard since Gary Payton to win Defensive Player of the Year.
    564pts
11. 11
    Nate Archibald

    Hall of Fame point guard nicknamed Tiny who ran the offense for the 1981 championship team and won that season's All-Star Game MVP.
    564pts
12. 12
    Don Nelson

    Versatile forward famed for his one-handed free throws who won five championships with Boston between 1966 and 1976; his number 19 is retired.
    515pts
13. 13
    Dave Cowens

    A physical, relentless center who won two championships in Boston (1974, 1976) and was named MVP in 1973, Cowens was the emotional heart of the Celtics in the 1970s.
    515pts
14. 14
    Jaylen Brown

    A two-way All-Star who was named Finals MVP in the 2024 championship run, Brown developed into one of the NBA's most complete wings alongside Jayson Tatum.
    461pts
15. 15
    Tom Heinsohn

    Hall of Fame forward who won eight titles as a Celtics player, two more as their head coach in 1974 and 1976, then became the team's beloved broadcaster.
    461pts
16. 16
    Robert Parish

    'The Chief' was one of the most durable centers in NBA history, winning three championships in Boston and playing a critical role in the Celtics' 1980s dynasty alongside Bird and McHale.
    461pts
17. 17
    Dennis Johnson

    A nine-time All-Defensive team selection, DJ was the unsung defensive backbone of the Larry Bird-era Celtics, winning two championships in Boston with clutch performances throughout.
    400pts
18. 18
    Reggie Lewis

    Captain and 1992 All-Star who succeeded Larry Bird as the team's leading scorer before his death at 27 in 1993; his number 35 is retired.
    400pts
19. 19
    Bailey Howell

    Hall of Fame forward who joined in 1966 and was a key scorer on the 1968 and 1969 championship teams in Bill Russell's final seasons.
    400pts
20. 20
    Paul Silas

    Tough rebounding forward who arrived in 1972 and helped the Celtics win championships in 1974 and 1976 alongside Dave Cowens and John Havlicek.
    400pts
21. 21
    Al Horford

    Dominican big man who spent two stints in Boston and finally won his first championship in 2024 as a veteran starter and floor-spacing center.
    329pts
22. 22
    Jrue Holiday

    All-Defensive guard acquired in 2023 who brought elite perimeter defense and steady shooting to the 2024 championship team.
    329pts
23. 23
    Kevin Garnett

    KG's arrival in Boston in 2007 transformed a struggling franchise into champions, with his ferocious defensive intensity and leadership anchoring the 2008 title run.
    329pts
24. 24
    John Havlicek

    An eight-time NBA champion, Havlicek was a relentless two-way player who spent 16 seasons in Boston, becoming the franchise's all-time leading scorer at the time of his retirement.
    329pts
25. 25
    Satch Sanders

    Defensive forward who won eight championships in his 13 Boston seasons from 1960 to 1973, specialising in shutting down the league's top scorers.
    248pts
26. 26
    Antoine Walker

    Three-time All-Star forward who led Boston in scoring for years and teamed with Paul Pierce to reach the 2002 Eastern Conference finals.
    248pts
27. 27
    Payton Pritchard

    Oregon guard drafted in 2020 who won the 2024 championship and was named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 2025.
    248pts
28. 28
    Isaiah Thomas

    Despite standing just 5'9", Thomas delivered one of the most remarkable individual seasons in Celtics history in 2016-17, averaging 29 points per game and becoming a Boston fan legend.
    248pts
29. 29
    Rajon Rondo

    An elite playmaker and the defensive engine of the 2008 championship squad, Rondo was the catalyst of Boston's offense with one of the highest assist totals in franchise history.
    248pts
30. 30
    Cedric Maxwell

    Forward known as Cornbread who was named Finals MVP in 1981, starred again in the 1984 title Game 7 and had his number 31 retired.
    154pts
31. 31
    Derrick White

    Guard acquired in 2022 who became a 2024 champion and All-Defensive selection, known for timely chase-down blocks and clutch shooting.
    154pts
32. 32
    Frank Ramsey

    Hall of Famer regarded as the NBA's first true sixth man, coming off Red Auerbach's bench to win seven championships between 1957 and 1964.
    154pts
33. 33
    Bill Walton

    Hall of Fame center who revived his career off the Boston bench, winning Sixth Man of the Year and the championship in 1986.
    154pts
34. 34
    Jayson Tatum

    Boston's modern superstar and perennial All-Star who led the Celtics to the 2024 NBA championship, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in franchise history.
    154pts
35. 35
    Bill Sharman

    Sharpshooting guard who paired with Bob Cousy to win four championships from 1957 to 1961, earning eight All-Star selections and seven free-throw titles.
    154pts
36. 36
    Sam Jones

    A ten-time NBA champion with Boston, Jones was a clutch scorer and sharp shooter who was an indispensable part of the Celtics' legendary 1960s dynasty.
    0pts

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