All-Time Boston Celtics Team

Since the beginning of the 21th century, Boston has been called the “City of Champions” more than any other town. The Patriots, Bruins and Red Sox all have experienced great success during this time, but no team in Beantown can claim more championships than the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics have won 17 NBA championships. That’s more titles than their Boston brethren and any other NBA team.

Those who have worn the Celtic green are among the greatest in NBA history and have been defining players of their eras. Bill Russell in the 1960s, John Havlicek in the 1970s and Larry Bird in the 1980s are all on the “Mount Rushmore of Celtics.” But who fills out that fourth spot, and who would fill out the all-time Celtics roster?

We will answer those questions as we look at the best of the best in Celtics history. These are the best 12 players to lace up the sneakers for the winningest franchise in NBA history, the Boston Celtics.

Position: Point guard

Experience: 14 years (1950-63, 1969-70)

Years with Celtics: 13 seasons (1950-63)

Career stats: 18.4 PPG, 7.5 APG, 5.2 RPG

Celtics stats: 18.5 PPG, 7.6 APG, 5.2 RPG

Championships (titles with Celtics in bold): Six (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963)

All-time Celtics team role: Starter

Bottom line: Well, no one would ever confuse Bob Cousy with Hot Sauce or The Professor from And-1 fame, but when Cousy joined the NBA, many skeptics thought he was too flamboyant for the game.

He quickly proved those doubters wrong by making the All-Star Game as a rookie, and by also making it the next dozen years of his career. Cooz racked up eight straight assists titles during his career and was the first guard to win the MVP award in 1956-57.

When he retired from the Celtics in 1963, Cousy was the NBA’s all-time leader in assists.

He came back for a seven-game stint during the 1969-70 season with the Cincinnati Royals and also was their head coach.

Position: Shooting guard

Experience: 16 years, all with Celtics (1962-78)

Career stats: 20.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.8 APG

Championships: Eight (1963-66, 1968-69, 1974, 1976)

All-time Celtics team role: Starter

Bottom line: Bill Russell may have the most NBA championships with 11, but no one has a better record in the NBA Finals than John Havlicek. He went 8-0 in the Finals, which ties K.C. Jones and Satch Sanders for the most wins without a series loss.

“Hondo” also was drafted by the Cleveland Browns but concentrated strictly on basketball shortly afterward, and Celtics fans couldn’t be happier. He started out as a sixth man, but eventually became a starter and the team’s best player after Russell retired.

Havlicek made 13 All-Star teams and is still the Celtics’ all-time leading scorer with 26,395 points.

Position: Small forward

Experience: 13 years, all with Celtics (1979-92)

Career stats: 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG

Championships: Three (1981, 1984, 1986)

All-time Celtics team role: Starter

Bottom line: The only other person in the discussion with LeBron James for greatest small forward of all time, Larry Bird spent half his career as a power forward. But he’s still best known for being the main cog in the legendary front line of the 1980s Celtics.

“Larry Legend” was a three-time NBA MVP, and by winning those awards consecutively from 1984 to 1986, he joins Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell as the only players to accomplish that feat.

Although he is famous for his shooting and scoring, Bird was an all-around great player and is the only player in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for a career.

Position: Power forward

Experience: 13 years, all with Celtics (1980-93)

Career stats: 17.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.7 APG

Championships: Three (1981, 1984, 1986)

All-time Celtics team role: Starter

Bottom line: Just like Havlicek before him, Kevin McHale started off as a sixth man before ascending to the Celtics’ starting lineup.

During the 1983-84 season, he became the first bench player in NBA history to make an All-Star team and also won the first of his two Sixth Man of the Year awards.

McHale was known for his array of low-post moves, which may be somewhat obsolete today, but were the toast of the NBA in the 1980s.

Fellow Hall of Famer Charles Barkley once said that McHale was the best player he ever played against because he was “unstoppable offensively.”