Ranking the Best Boston Celtics of All Time

Larry Bird and the Celtics' all-time greats

Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:04pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in shades of green, white, and gold, representing the iconic Boston Celtics basketball team through an abstract, multi-angled visual style.A cubist interpretation of the Boston Celtics' storied basketball legacy, capturing the team's dynamic energy and championship pedigree.Boston Today

A ranking of the greatest Boston Celtics players of all time, including legends like Bill Russell, John Havlicek, and Larry Bird. The article examines the team's championship-winning eras in the 1950s/60s and the later era led by Bird, and discusses how to balance individual accolades with team success when determining the Mount Rushmore of Celtics players.

Why it matters

The Boston Celtics are one of the most storied franchises in NBA history, with a record 17 championships. Determining the greatest players to don the iconic green and white jersey is a topic of great interest and debate among Celtics fans and NBA historians alike.

The details

The article argues that simply ranking Celtics players by championship titles would overlook all-time greats like Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, and Kevin McHale who won titles but not to the same extent as the dynasty teams of the 1950s and 60s. Instead, the author splits the difference, looking at the best players from the early championship era and the later era led by Bird. The top four players highlighted are Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Larry Bird, and Bill Russell.

  • The Celtics won 11 championships from 1957 to 1969.
  • Larry Bird was drafted by the Celtics in 1979 and played for the team until 1992.

The players

Bob Cousy

A member of six NBA championship teams with the Celtics in the 1950s and '60s, Cousy's dynamic dribbling and passing set the standard for point guards for the next several decades.

John Havlicek

A 13-time All-Star with eight NBA titles, Havlicek played with Boston for 16 seasons and was a tenacious defender who made eight All-Defensive teams.

Larry Bird

The No. 2 overall pick out of Indiana State in the 1979 draft, "Larry Legend" won Rookie of the Year in 1980 and went on to win three MVPs and three titles with the Celtics in the 1980s.

Bill Russell

Russell may be the best big man to ever play the game of basketball, winning a record 11 championships and five MVP awards in his 13 NBA seasons with the Celtics.

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The takeaway

Determining the greatest Boston Celtics players of all time is a complex task that requires balancing individual accolades with team success across different eras. This ranking highlights the enduring legacy of Celtics legends like Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Larry Bird, and Bill Russell, who defined the franchise's championship pedigree.