With seven decades of history and 17 banners to their name, the Boston Celtics have no shortage of elite shooting guards populating the history of their roster construction.
But who are the best of the best to play the two for Boston over the franchise’s long and renowned history?
One can define “best” in many ways, but for the purposes of this exercise, we are restricting it to mean the achievements — both individual and team — unlocked while wearing green and white.
While there are Hall of Fame greats who have passed through for a season or two but done little while a Celtic, they won’t be on this list, as we’re strictly focused on bodies of work constructed in Boston.
And longevity and consistency matter too — the number of rings (or dearth of them) isn’t the only thing that’s under consideration. So, with that said, who are the greatest Celtics shooting guards of all time?
Honorable mention
Ray Allen
While Allen may have left a bad taste in many a mouth with the way he left the Celtics, without him, there would have been no Kevin Garnett trade, and quite likely no Banner 17.
Jesus Shuttlesworth was an NBA champion in 2008 of course, and made three All-Star Games in 2008, 2009, and 2011 en route to cementing his legacy as one of the greatest shooters to play the game.
The UConn product averaged 16.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game over five seasons with the Celtics.
Charlie Scott
Scott has the dubious distinction of having been traded away by the Celtics twice, but he had a significant impact while with the team in the middle of the 1970s, winning an NBA championship with the team in 1976 and being elected to the All-Star Game in 1975.
The UNC product averaged 17.5 points, 4.2 boards and 4.4 assists over three seasons with Boston.
No. 5 All-Time: Danny Ainge
Though younger fans may only know him as the face of today’s franchise, Ainge was a nearly-unstoppable competitor in his heyday, unafraid of anyone — even Tree Rollins.
He won two rings while with the Celtics (1984 and 1986) and made the NBA All-Star Game in 1988, and was a critical part of the mid-eighties teams that brought Boston back to relevance after an up-and-down 1970s.
The BYU product averaged 11.3 points, 2.8 points rebounds and 4.4 assists per game over eight seasons with Boston.
No. 4 All-Time: Don Chaney
Chaney played for the Celtics in two separate stints, and literally bridged the eras between Bill Russell and Larry Bird. In his time with the franchise, he won two NBA championships in 1969 and 1974.
But, more than anything, his defensive chops made him such a valuable part of those teams. Chaney would be elected to five NBA All-Defensive Second Teams, four between 1972 and 1975, and another in 1977.
The Houston product averaged 8.7 points, 3.9 boards and 1.9 assists per game over 10 seasons with the Celtics.
No. 3 All-Time: Bill Sharman
Sharman helped lay the groundwork of the 1960s Celtics dynasty, and was a force to be reckoned with himself. While the mists of time and the glory that came after have hidden in part his contribution to Boston’s championship lore, Sharman was instrumental in winning four banners for the Celtics.
He was also elected to the NBA All-Star Game eight times between 1953 and 1960 — elected MVP of the 1955 All-Star Game — and seven All-NBA teams between 1953 and 1960.
The USC product averaged 18.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game over 10 seasons with Boston.
No. 2 All-Time: Larry Siegfried
Another under-appreciated figure from the golden age of the Celtics, Siegfried was also a defensive stalwart who helped secure five titles with Boston with his stout, physical coverage.
His free-throw shooting in particular — which he led the league in over the 1965-66 and 1968-69 seasons — were an important tool in Boston’s championship arsenal.
The Ohio State product averaged 11.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists over seven seasons with the Celtics.
No. 1 All-Time: Sam Jones
There is only one player with more rings than Sam Jones, and every one of them was won with the player with 11 rings, teammate Bill Russell. And Jones was no two-but sidekick to Russell, but an all-time great in his own right.
A ten-time NBA champion between 1959 and 1969, Jones would also be elected to five All-Star Games between 1962 and 1968, and three All-NBA teams between 1965 and 1967. Jones is without equal among the already-elite cadre of Celtics shooting guards, and that in itself is no small feat.
The North Carolina Central product averaged 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists over 12 seasons in the NBA — all with the Celtics.
