2013-2014 boston celtics player introduction's and historic player's
The Celtics have 31 Hall-of-Famers, 22 retired numbers, and when the NBA celebrated its 50th anniversary by unveiling the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history, in 1996-97, 13 were former members of the Boston Celtics. These numbers do not include current players and coaches who are sure to be inducted into the hall of fame such as Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Coach Glen “Doc” Rivers. The Celtics current roster is a fairly young team with the only remaining member from their last championship being Rajon Rondo.
Bill Russell - The greatest NBA champion of all time is also the greatest Celtic to ever wear No. 6. Bill Russell, who has a championship ring for every finger with one to spare, played all of his 13 seasons with the Celtics and had his number retired by the team on March 12, 1972.
Russell was a dominant force throughout his career with the C’s. He finished with career averages of 15.1 PPG and 22.5 RPG. Russell averaged a career-high 24.7 RPG during the 1963-64 season while leading Boston to its seventh title. Russell was a five-time NBA MVP, a 12-time All-Star, and was named to the NBA’s famed 50th Anniversary Team.
Larry Bird - Larry Bird is one of the sacred names in NBA history. Larry Legend, as he is known in Boston, is one of the greatest Celtics of all time. He played all 13 of his seasons with the Celtics and led the team to three championships. Bird’s resume includes two Finals MVP awards, three league MVP awards, 12 All-Star appearances, an All-Star MVP award and a Rookie of the Year award, just to name a few. He averaged more than 20.0 PPG in 11 of his 13 seasons, including a career-high 29.9 PPG in 1987-88. Bird finished his career with averages of 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG and 6.3 APG. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998, five years after the Celtics retired his No. 33 jersey on Feb. 4, 1993.
Russell was a dominant force throughout his career with the C’s. He finished with career averages of 15.1 PPG and 22.5 RPG. Russell averaged a career-high 24.7 RPG during the 1963-64 season while leading Boston to its seventh title. Russell was a five-time NBA MVP, a 12-time All-Star, and was named to the NBA’s famed 50th Anniversary Team.
Larry Bird - Larry Bird is one of the sacred names in NBA history. Larry Legend, as he is known in Boston, is one of the greatest Celtics of all time. He played all 13 of his seasons with the Celtics and led the team to three championships. Bird’s resume includes two Finals MVP awards, three league MVP awards, 12 All-Star appearances, an All-Star MVP award and a Rookie of the Year award, just to name a few. He averaged more than 20.0 PPG in 11 of his 13 seasons, including a career-high 29.9 PPG in 1987-88. Bird finished his career with averages of 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG and 6.3 APG. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998, five years after the Celtics retired his No. 33 jersey on Feb. 4, 1993.
Fifteen seasons. One championship. A Finals MVP. More than 24,000 points. Ten straight All-Star appearances. That’s a quick summary of what Paul Pierce accomplished in Boston before moving on to Brooklyn this summer. Pierce is undoubtedly one of the greatest Celtics of all time, and it’s a safe bet to assume that the Celtics will retire his number shortly after his career comes to an end.