In 1996, the NBA decided to assemble a panel of 50 players, media members, and team representatives in total to select the 50 greatest players of the league’s first 50 years on the anniversary of the NBA’s first season of 1946-47.
The league again plans to assemble a similar list to honor the 75th anniversary of its foundation in 2021, but before we begin to recount which alumni of the Boston Celtics were added to the list, let’s take a look at the old one. Dominated by names once populating the championship eras of the team from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, a total of 14 of the NBA’s 50 greatest players once donned the green and white.
Let’s review who made the cut, and when they were Celtics.
Was the disaster that was the Boston Celtics' Rick Pitino era due to style and stubborness? https://t.co/kVkZmiPfFp
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 7, 2023
Nate Archibald (1977-83)
Dave Bing (1977-78)
Larry Bird (1979-92)
Bob Cousy (1950-63)
Dave Cowens (1970-80)
John Havlicek (1962-78)
Sam Jones (1957-69)
Pete Maravich (1980)
Kevin McHale (1980-93)
Shaquille O'Neal (2010-11)
Robert Parish (1980-94)
Bill Russell (1956-69)
Bill Sharman (1951-61)
Bill Walton (1985-87)
Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ
