Celtics well-represented on NBA 75th anniversary team

Author Matt Dolloff

October 22nd, 2021 12:08 PM

To celebrate its 75th season, the NBA recently announced the 75 greatest players in league history with the 75th Anniversary Team. As you’d expect, the Boston Celtics are very well-represented.

In total, 20 players who suited up for the Celtics during their careers were named to the 75th anniversary team. Of course, some played longer in Celtics green and mean more to the history of the organization than others. But what they all have in common is that they were among the NBA’s all-time greats, regardless of uniform.

The updated list adds new names from the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players, which was released for the league’s 50th anniversary in 1996. The 75th anniversary team includes 12 active players, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard. Other notable player additions from the ’96 list include Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, and Allen Iverson, among others.

As for the Celtics represented in the list? Many of them did not spend the majority of their careers in Boston. But here’s a look at some notable former C’s on the 75th anniversary team…

• Bill Russell

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  Duh. Russell's 11 championships remain unmatched in NBA history, and may never be reached again. Even Michael Jordan could muster "only" six rings. Russell was the most dominant center of his era, especially on defense. He averaged 22.5 rebounds per game over the course of his 963-game career and changed the game with the way he controlled games at his own end of the court. When you think of the phrase, "Defense wins championships," Russell ought to be one of the first names to come to mind.

• Larry Bird

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  Before there was Tom Brady, there was Bird, who became known as Boston's most clutch athlete in the 1980s. Bird won three championships with the Celtics, and may have won more if not for Magic Johnson and the "Showtime" Lakers. Bird was an impeccable shooter whose basketball I.Q. was off the charts, and he routinely excelled in big games. "Larry Legend" will always have a spot on any list of the greatest basketball players of all time.

• Paul Pierce

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  The Celtics' top icon of the past 30 years, Pierce spent the vast majority of his career in Boston and won his only NBA championship here. He was also named NBA Finals MVP in 2008, as he went toe to toe with Kobe Bryant in the Celtics' championship win over the Lakers. A 10-time All-Star, Pierce's prolific scoring made him one of the NBA's most dangerous players for over a decade, which earned "The Truth" a place in the NBA's top-75.
• Kevin Garnett

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  Despite Pierce's status as a great all-time Celtic, he didn't reach the summit as an NBA champion until Garnett came to town. K.G. himself arrived in Boston after 12 seasons in Minnesota, with only one conference finals appearance. Garnett transformed the Celtics' identity overnight, leading the way with All-Star production, dominant defense, and his signature on-court intensity. Garnett may have played only six of his 14 seasons in Boston, but he left an unforgettable mark on the franchise.

• John Havlicek

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  "Hondo" spent his entire 16-year career with the Celtics, and won six championships alongside Bill Russell. He tacked on two more titles in the '70s. Havlicek was a 13-time All-Star who excelled at both ends of the court, and also won the NBA MVP award in 1974. And of course, he's best known for his famous steal to seal the 1965 eastern conference championship for the C's, which spawned Johnny Most's iconic call, "Havlicek stole the ball!" Havlicek passed away in 2019 at age 79, after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. He left a permanent legacy on the Celtics.

• Bob Cousy

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  Cousy played all but one season with the Celtics, and for all intents and purposes, spent his whole career in Boston. (He came out of retirement after six years in 1970 at age 41, playing seven games with the Cincinnati Royals.) Cousy was arguably the most dominant point guard of his time, leading the NBA in assists for eight straight seasons from 1952-60. He predated Bill Russell on the team and was the point guard for Russell's first six championships.
• Kevin McHale

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  Larry Bird's right-hand man during the Celtics' dominating run in the '80s, McHale earned his place as one of the game's greatest low-post players. He excelled around the rim at both ends of the court, making seven All-Star appearances in 13 seasons (all in Boston) and earning All-Defensive honors six times. McHale also had an accomplished post-playing career in the NBA with Minnesota and Houston, but he'll always be best known as a Celtics great.

• Dave Cowens

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  Cowens played 10 of his 11 NBA seasons with the Celtics and won two championships as the "1A" to John Havlicek in the '70s. Cowens was an excellent two-way center who earned eight All-Star nods and three All-Defensive awards, and he was also the Rookie of the Year in 1971. Cowens was a little undersized for a big at 6-foot-9, but made up for it with his tenacity on the glass. He could also shoot a little bit, which makes you wonder how he'd look if he played in the modern NBA.

• Bill Walton

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  Walton played only two seasons with the Celtics, but one of them - the 1985-86 championship team - was one of the most important in franchise history. Arriving in Boston having played only 169 games in the previous six years, missing three entire seasons altogether, Walton accepted a reduced role on the Celtics and miraculously played 80 games. He still averaged 1.3 blocks per game despite averaging only 19.3 minutes in 1985-86, earning the NBA's Sixth Man Award. Walton may be only a blip on the radar in Celtics history, but he played a key role on one of the greatest teams ever assembled.

There are plenty of other Celtics greats who made the NBA’s 75th anniversary team and deserve mention. Here’s the full list of former Celtics on the list:

Ray Allen
Nate Archibald
Dave Bing
Larry Bird
Bob Cousy
Dave Cowens
Kevin Garnett
John Havlicek
Sam Jones
Pete Maravich
Bob McAdoo
Kevin McHale
Shaquille O’Neal
Gary Payton
Robert Parish
Paul Pierce
Bill Russell
Bill Sharman
Bill Walton
Dominique Wilkins

Check out the complete 75th anniversary team with more info on each player at NBA.com/75.

Click here for complete Boston Celtics coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @mattydsays. You can also email him at [email protected].

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Author Matt Dolloff

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bill russell,bill walton,Bob Cousy,Boston Celtics,dave cowens,john havlicek,kevin garnett,kevin mchale,larry bird,Matt Dolloff,NBA,paul pierce