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All-time five

All-time Boston Celtics starting five

The best Celtics at every position, drawn from the 1960s to the 2020s of franchise history — and what the SweepSzn engine makes of them as one starting five.

The starting five

  1. PGGary Payton2004–05 · 2000s
    PTS
    11.3
    REB
    3.1
    AST
    6.1
    9× All-Star · 9× All-NBA (2 1st) · 9× All-Defense
  2. SGJohn Havlicek1970–71 · 1970s
    PTS
    28.9
    REB
    9.0
    AST
    7.5
    13× All-Star · 10× All-NBA (4 1st) · 8× All-Defense
  3. SFLarry Bird1984–85 · 1980s
    PTS
    28.7
    REB
    10.5
    AST
    6.6
    3× MVP · 10× All-Star · 10× All-NBA (9 1st) · 3× All-Defense
  4. PFKevin Garnett2007–08 · 2000s
    PTS
    18.8
    REB
    9.2
    AST
    3.4
    1× MVP · 14× All-Star · 9× All-NBA (4 1st) · 12× All-Defense
  5. CBill Russell1962–63 · 1960s
    PTS
    16.8
    REB
    23.6
    AST
    4.5
    5× MVP · 12× All-Star · 3× All-NBA · 1× All-Defense
Projected record
69–13

The SweepSzn engine projects this five at 69-13 (A dynasty).

See the full breakdown →

How this five was picked: by career accolades, one per position. Players are ranked by All-Star selections plus MVP, All-NBA and All-Defense voting, weighted toward what they did for the Celtics, with full-time starters (30+ minutes a night) first. Each position goes to the best-ranked player who can play it, one season per player — no engine optimizing. How the engine works.

Legends by decade

The most decorated Celtics of each era, each shown in his best season with the franchise that decade.

1960s

  1. Bill Russell1962–63 · C
    16.8 PTS · 23.6 REB · 4.5 AST
    5× MVP · 12× All-Star · 3× All-NBA · 1× All-Defense
  2. John Havlicek1969–70 · SG/SF
    24.2 PTS · 7.8 REB · 6.8 AST
    13× All-Star · 10× All-NBA (4 1st) · 8× All-Defense
  3. Bob Cousy1960–61 · PG
    18.1 PTS · 4.4 REB · 7.7 AST
    1× MVP · 13× All-Star
  4. Sam Jones1964–65 · SG
    25.9 PTS · 5.1 REB · 2.8 AST
    5× All-Star · 2× All-NBA
  5. Bailey Howell1967–68 · SF/PF
    19.8 PTS · 9.8 REB · 1.6 AST
    6× All-Star

1970s

  1. Larry Bird1979–80 · SF/PF
    21.3 PTS · 10.4 REB · 4.5 AST
    3× MVP · 10× All-Star · 10× All-NBA (9 1st) · 3× All-Defense
  2. John Havlicek1970–71 · SG/SF
    28.9 PTS · 9.0 REB · 7.5 AST
    13× All-Star · 10× All-NBA (4 1st) · 8× All-Defense
  3. Dave Cowens1977–78 · PF/C
    18.6 PTS · 14.0 REB · 4.6 AST
    1× MVP · 6× All-Star · 3× All-NBA · 2× All-Defense
  4. Tiny Archibald1979–80 · PG
    14.1 PTS · 2.5 REB · 8.4 AST
    6× All-Star · 5× All-NBA (3 1st)
  5. Jo Jo White1971–72 · PG
    23.1 PTS · 5.6 REB · 5.3 AST
    7× All-Star · 2× All-NBA

1980s

  1. Larry Bird1984–85 · SF/PF
    28.7 PTS · 10.5 REB · 6.6 AST
    3× MVP · 10× All-Star · 10× All-NBA (9 1st) · 3× All-Defense
  2. Kevin McHale1986–87 · PF
    26.1 PTS · 9.9 REB · 2.6 AST
    7× All-Star · 1× All-NBA (1 1st) · 6× All-Defense
  3. Dennis Johnson1984–85 · PG/SG
    15.7 PTS · 4.0 REB · 6.8 AST
    5× All-Star · 2× All-NBA (1 1st) · 9× All-Defense
  4. Tiny Archibald1980–81 · PG
    13.8 PTS · 2.2 REB · 7.7 AST
    6× All-Star · 5× All-NBA (3 1st)
  5. Danny Ainge1987–88 · PG/SG
    15.7 PTS · 3.1 REB · 6.2 AST
    1× All-Star

1990s

  1. Larry Bird1990–91 · SF/PF
    19.4 PTS · 8.5 REB · 7.2 AST
    3× MVP · 10× All-Star · 10× All-NBA (9 1st) · 3× All-Defense
  2. Paul Pierce1999–00 · SG/SF
    19.5 PTS · 5.4 REB · 3.0 AST
    10× All-Star · 4× All-NBA
  3. Dominique Wilkins1994–95 · SF
    17.8 PTS · 5.2 REB · 2.2 AST
    8× All-Star · 7× All-NBA (1 1st)
  4. Kevin McHale1990–91 · PF
    18.4 PTS · 7.1 REB · 1.9 AST
    7× All-Star · 1× All-NBA (1 1st) · 6× All-Defense
  5. Robert Parish1990–91 · C
    14.9 PTS · 10.6 REB · 0.8 AST
    9× All-Star · 2× All-NBA

2000s

  1. Kevin Garnett2007–08 · SF/PF/C
    18.8 PTS · 9.2 REB · 3.4 AST
    1× MVP · 14× All-Star · 9× All-NBA (4 1st) · 12× All-Defense
  2. Gary Payton2004–05 · PG
    11.3 PTS · 3.1 REB · 6.1 AST
    9× All-Star · 9× All-NBA (2 1st) · 9× All-Defense
  3. Paul Pierce2001–02 · SG/SF
    26.1 PTS · 6.9 REB · 3.2 AST
    10× All-Star · 4× All-NBA
  4. Ray Allen2008–09 · SG
    18.2 PTS · 3.5 REB · 2.8 AST
    10× All-Star · 2× All-NBA
  5. Rajon Rondo2009–10 · PG
    13.7 PTS · 4.4 REB · 9.8 AST
    3× All-Star · 1× All-NBA · 4× All-Defense

2010s

  1. Kevin Garnett2010–11 · SF/PF/C
    14.9 PTS · 8.9 REB · 2.4 AST
    1× MVP · 14× All-Star · 9× All-NBA (4 1st) · 12× All-Defense
  2. Jayson Tatum2019–20 · SF/PF
    23.4 PTS · 7.0 REB · 3.0 AST
    6× All-Star · 1× All-NBA
  3. Paul Pierce2010–11 · SG/SF
    18.9 PTS · 5.4 REB · 3.3 AST
    10× All-Star · 4× All-NBA
  4. Kyrie Irving2018–19 · PG/SG
    23.8 PTS · 5.0 REB · 6.9 AST
    9× All-Star · 3× All-NBA
  5. Ray Allen2010–11 · SG
    16.5 PTS · 3.4 REB · 2.7 AST
    10× All-Star · 2× All-NBA

2020s

  1. Jayson Tatum2022–23 · SF/PF
    30.1 PTS · 8.8 REB · 4.6 AST
    6× All-Star · 1× All-NBA
  2. Jrue Holiday2023–24 · PG/SG
    12.5 PTS · 5.4 REB · 4.8 AST
    2× All-Star · 6× All-Defense
  3. Jaylen Brown2020–21 · SG/SF
    24.7 PTS · 6.0 REB · 3.4 AST
    4× All-Star
  4. Derrick White2024–25 · PG/SG
    16.4 PTS · 4.5 REB · 4.8 AST
    2× All-Defense
  5. Kemba Walker2020–21 · PG
    19.3 PTS · 4.0 REB · 4.9 AST
    4× All-Star · 1× All-NBA

Think you can beat the all-time Celtics? Go for 82-0.

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