After more than seven decades of experience and more championships than any other team in the NBA, the Boston Celtics have piled up a lot of great point guards over the years.
But who are the best of the greatest floor generals in the history of the franchise?
It’s possible to define “greatest” in many ways, but for the purposes of this exercise, we are restricting it exclusively to the accomplishments of a given point guard to what they did as a Celtic.
So if you are puzzled as to the exclusion of a Gary Payton, for example, while he’s undoubtedly among the most accomplished point guards in Celtics history, most of his accolades came while with other franchises.
Longevity, consistency and context matter too, so a player who had a long career with only a few banners but a big role in those they did win might be ranked higher than someone who has more rings, but perhaps played less a role in winning them.
So, with that said — who are the greatest point guards in Boston’s history?
Honorable mention I – Isaiah Thomas – 2015-17
While Thomas never won a championship with the Celtics, few have had such an outsized impact in such a short time as the 5-foot-9 floor general did.
He would be dealt to Boston by the Phoenix Suns almost for nothing, and clawed his way first into the starting lineup, and then into a pair of All-Star appearances while with the team.
He’d also be elected to the All-NBA Second Team in 2017, he same season he severely damaged his hip trying to play through injury for the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. IT averaged 24.7 points, 2.7 boards and 6 assists over that stretch.
Honorable mention II – Rajon Rondo – 2006-14
Rondo spent nine seasons playing for Boston, winning a championship with the team in 2008 and being elected to four All-Star games and one All-NBA team while in the green and white.
He’s also be elected to four All-Defensive teams, and lead the league in assists three seasons (2012, 2013, 2016) and steals once (2010), averaging 11 points, 4.7 rebounds and 8.5 assist per game while with the franchise.
The Kentucky product only misses the top five for Boston due to the depth of the club’s history — a resume like this would likely secure a player such a slot on almost any other team in the league.
No. 5 – Nate Archibald – 1978-83
Tiny, as he was sometimes called, came to Boston late in his prime and 20 lbs. overweight, but still managed to win a championship with the team in 1981.
He was also elected to three NBA All-Star games between 1980 and 1983 and an All-NBA team in 1981, helping drive the Celtics to possess the league’s best record for three seasons in a row (1979-82).
Archibald would average 12.5 points, 1.9 boards and 7.2 assist per game over five seasons with the team.
No. 4 – Dennis Johnson – 1983-90
DJ would win two banners with Boston, in 1984 and 1986, and be elected to an All-Star game (1985), and four All-Defensive teams while with the Celtics.
Previously more of a flashy scorer, Johnson shifted gears on arrival in Boston, becoming more of a floor general distributing the ball, and playing lockdown defense when called on to do so.
His defense of Magic Johnson in the 1984 NBA Finals was instrumental in securing the championship, and the Californian would be part of several other signature plays during his Celtics tenure. During it, DJ averaged 12.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game.
No. 3 – Jo Jo White – 1969-79
White played his best basketball with Boston, winning two championships (1974, 1976, winning Finals MVP during the latter) with the Celtics and being elected to seven All-Star games and two All-NBA teams over ten seasons.
White would also play in every game over five seasons, setting a franchise record for 488 straight games.
After far too long, the Kansas product would be elected to the Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport and Boston’s history, during his tenure with he averaged 18.4 points, 4.3 boards and 5.1 assists.
No. 2 – K.C. Jones – 1958-67
Jones came into the league with San Francisco teammate and fellow Celtics legend Bill Russell, winning eight championships over his nine seasons with the franchise, one of the winningest players in league history in that regard.
Jones would also be known for his gritty defense, setting the tone for Celtics guards from Dennis Johnson to Marcus Smart, a critical component of the team’s dynasty in the 1960s.
The legendary point guard — one of only a handful to win NBA and NCAA titles and an Olympic gold medal (not that we’re counting the latter two here) — recorded a career average of 7.4 points, 3.5 boards and 4.3 assists.
No. 1 – Bob Cousy – 1950-63
While Jones may have hung more banners, Cousy was more instrumental in the six he won with Boston, especially earlier in his career before Bill Russell’s arrival transformed the fortunes of the team.
Cousy was truly a Houdini of the hardwood — as he would be called — winning league MVP in 1957 and All-Star MVP in that year and 1954.
The New Yorker would be elected to 13 All-Star games, 12 All-NBA teams, most of them First Team, and Cousy led the league in assists over eight separate seasons.
Playing all but seven games of a career spanning 14 seasons and two decades (he returned for a brief stint with the Cincinnati Royals in 1969-70), the greatest point guard in Celtics history averaged 18.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game over 13 seasons with Boston.
