# Who is the greatest Boston Celtics player 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?

*By YPB Team · Published April 21, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-greatest-boston-celtics-player-of-all-time*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

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.
2. **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.
3. **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.
4. **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.
5. **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.
6. **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.
7. **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.
8. **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.
9. **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.
10. **Dennis Johnson**
   A five-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.
11. **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.
12. **Jayson Tatum**
   Boston's modern superstar and four-time All-Star who led the Celtics to the 2024 NBA championship, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in franchise history.
13. **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.
14. **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.
15. **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.
16. **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.

Tags: usa, sports, basketball, players, nba