After 18 seasons as the Director of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics, Danny Ainge stepped down as Brad Stevens replaced him in the front office.
From winning two championships in 1984 and 1986 as a player to constructing the team that won in 2008, Ainge’s name can’t be left out when talking about the Celtics legacy.
So, Nick Gelso of CLNS Media asked the question: Should the Celtics retire Danny Ainge’s #44?
It’s certainly an interesting question with arguments on both sides.
Did Ainge have the All-Star-esque numbers that pop off the stat sheet as a player? Not necessarily, but the BYU product was a big part of those Celtics teams in the 80’s, going to four straight NBA Finals from 1984-87, winning two of them.
As an executive, Ainge is known for being fearless and always happens to get the better of every trade he’s apart of. The Celtics made the playoffs 15 of the 18 seasons, making six trips to the Eastern Conference Finals, two NBA Finals appearances, and winning the 2008 championship.
As Ainge becomes a potential candidate to join the Jazz front office, despite any shortcomings of not being a perennial All-Star as a player or failing to build more championship contenders, after eight seasons as a player and 18 as an executive, Ainge’s run as a Celtic lifer should ultimately end with his #44 hanging in the rafters.
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
