'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Boston Celtics were the all-time leaders in NBA championships until the LA Lakers tied their tally of 17 titles in 2020. Still, the franchise remains one of the two greatest in the history of the NBA. Accordingly, this winning outfit has had many superstars over the years, all of whom have built their legacy.
Boston Celtics - All-time starting 5
As a franchise that played the second-most NBA Finals of all time, the Boston Celtics have a long and great history formed by iconic players and coaches.
In this article, we will look at the all-time starting five of the Boston Celtics, and we will also include a coach and a sixth man. Without further ado, let us start.
Coach - Red Auerbach
It cannot be anyone different from the great Red Auerbach. Auerbach coached the Celtics for 16 seasons, having a regular-season record of 795 wins and 397 losses.
He led the Boston Celtics to nine NBA championships and a 90-58 record in the NBA Playoffs. Auerbach was also an executive for Boston between 1950 and 2001, and was a part of 16 of the team's NBA titles.
Sixth man - Kevin McHale
He was not a stranger to this role in his playing days. Kevin McHale is certainly one of the best players in the history of the Boston Celtics and one of the greatest power forwards ever.
McHale played his 13-year NBA career with the Boston Celtics, and though he is top 4 in franchise history in games played, McHale started only 400 times. In fact, he won the Sixth Man of the Year Award twice for the Celtics (the franchise only has three of those awards).
His career averages were 18 points and 7 rebounds per game on 55% shooting. McHale is the franchise all-time leader in blocks per game, with 1.7.
Point Guard - Bob Cousy
Bob Cousy played 917 of his 924 career NBA games for the Boston Celtics. Cousy was an All-Star in his 13 years with the Celtics and led the league eight consecutive times in assists per game.
He played from 1950 to 1963, winning six NBA championships, earning 12 All-NBA selections apart from an MVP. Cousy is the franchise leader in assists with 6,945.
Shooting Guard - John Havlicek
It was not easy to leave Sam Jones out of this contest, but John Havlicek was a better player individually, and he too won a fair number of NBA championships with the franchise (eight; Jones won 10).
Havlicek played 16 years for the Boston Celtics, winning eight titles (two in the 1970s, without Bill Russell) and one NBA Finals MVP. Hondo played in the All-Star game 13 times, and earned 11 All-NBA selections apart from eight All-Defensive spots.
While he was usually listed as a small forward, Havlicek was also listed as a shooting guard in four seasons. He leads the Boston Celtics' all-time rankings of games, minutes, field goals, and points (26,395).
Forward - Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce was selected 10th overall in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.
10 years later, Pierce was named Finals MVP during Boston 2008 Championship run (their only title since 1986). Fittingly, Boston defeated the LA Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals.
Pierce played 15 years in Boston and averaged 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists in 1343 games. He is the franchise leader in three-pointers made, free-throws made and steals.
Pierce was named to 10 All-Star and four All-NBA teams in his NBA career (all while playing at Boston).
Forward - Larry Bird
Larry Legend.
Larry Bird is easily a top-2 player in Boston Celtics' history, with only Bill Russell joining him in that discussion.
Bird played for Boston from 1979 until 1992, although the team had selected him in the 1978 NBA Draft. He won three titles with the Boston Celtics (1981, 1984, and 1986) and was named Finals MVP twice.
In his 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, Bird was named to 12 All-Star teams, 10 All-NBA teams, and 3 All-Defensive squads.
Bird was the Celtics' only NBA MVP after Bill Russell won the award in 1965. In fact, he was the last player to date to win the NBA MVP in three straight years (1984-1986).
Bird averaged 24 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in his 13-year career with the Boston Celtics. He is the Boston Celtics' all-time leader in Triple-Doubles (59), Offensive Win Shares, and Value over Replacement.
Center - Bill Russell
Bill Russell was unique and iconic for the Boston Celtics.
Russell guided the Boston Celtics to their first 11 NBA championships by having arguably the greatest collective mind in NBA history.
The Boston Celtics played 12 finals during Russell's career, winning 11 (two with Russell as a player/coach).
Though he only averaged 15 points per game, Russell always did enough to help his team succeed and was a tremendous leader. He averaged 22.5 rebounds and four assists per game.
Russell helped the Boston Celtics win the NBA title in his rookie season and led the team's streak of eight consecutive championships before adding another two in his last two years. In the NBA Playoffs, he averaged 16 points, 25 rebounds, and 5 assists per game.
Russell won five MVPs, earned a spot in 12 All-Star games, and led the league four times in rebounds. He is also the Boston Celtics' all-time leader in rebounds, rebounds per game, minutes per game, Defensive Win Shares, and Win Shares.
Guess the Lakers players!
