We have arrived at the 11th edition of this series ranking the picks made by the Boston Celtics Nos. 1 through 60 by the number they were drafted at, landing at pick No. 46, which the team has drafted at five times in their seventy-year history the Celtics have been a franchise.
The selections made here began in 1918 and continued to the 1982 NBA draft, the most recent draft Boston selected 47th overall.
There were no stars in this group, though there was a role-playing champ among the five prospects taken at this late point in the draft.
There are no familiar faces to be found among the players we’re considering here save for the biggest Celtics history buffs.
As with earlier iterations of this series, we employ a rubric that focuses on what players have done while a Celtics above all else, with achievements coming before or afterward an extra way to rank prospects when the difference is slight.
With that said, who are the greatest Celtics drafted 47th overall?
Robert “Bob” Cumings – forward – Boston University
Cumings was a solid prospect out of B.U., averaging 13.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game on a Boston University squad that made it as far as the Elite Eight.
For whatever reason, he did not make the Celtics’ final roster after they drafted him in 1959, nor tried to continue on with the sport later.
Raymon “Rip” Gish – forward – Western Kentucky
Gish was another promising prospect who did not make Boston’s final roster after they drafted him in 1951.
A 6-foot-5 big who averaged 9.8 points per game (they had yet to record rebounds), Gish did not play for the Celtics because he served in the Korean War in the Marine corps.
Tony Guy – shooting guard – Kansas
A former team captain with the Jayhawks, Guy was told explicitly by team president Red Auerbach he would not make the final roster, but should instead work on his game in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), the equivalent of the G League in that era.
The Maryland native did exactly that, playing for the Wyoming Wildcatters and the Maine Lumberjacks as he made several unsuccessful attempts to make the league. He would eventually pursue a career in business instead.
Arnette Hallman – forward – Purdue
A transfer from Joliet Junior College to the Boilermakers, Hallman was a prolific rebounder known for his leaping ability.
Like Guy, Hallman was shuttled to play for the Maine Lumberjacks of the Continental Basketball Association, but decided to head overseas to play abroad instead. He would have a long, successful career playing in Portugal.
Rich Johnson – center – Grambling State
Our lone champion among the group, Johnson joined the team immediately after the 1968 draft, playing three seasons with the Celtics in a reserve roll.
He would win a title with the team in his rookie season backing up the legendary Bill Russell, and average 4.7 points and 2.7 rebounds over that stretch.
