The Boston Celtics' first-round draft picks have driven the franchise's remarkable NBA success. With the most titles in league history, the Celtics have thrived thanks to talent acquired through the draft. Legendary players like Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, and Kevin McHale - among the best in NBA history - began as Celtics draft picks. The team also found success with NBA All-Star Reggie Lewis and Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell, contributing to a legacy of shrewd draft picks. But which player had the greatest impact on the franchise? The stats below only account for a player's time with the Celtics - use this as the basis for your vote. Did this player improve the Celtics?
🔥 195 votes
About this list
- 1
Draft selection: 6 (1978)Stats: 873 games played, 24.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 6.3 apg
Achievements: 3× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
Achievements: 2× NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986)Achievements: 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1984–1986)
Achievements: 12× NBA All-Star (1980–1988, 1990–1992)
Achievements: 9× All-NBA First Team (1980–1988)
Achievements: All-NBA Second Team (1990)
Achievements: 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1982–1984)
Achievements: NBA Rookie of the Year (1980)
Draft selection: 3
Stats: 971 games played, 17.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.7 bpg
Achievements: 3× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)65 - 2
Achievements: 7× NBA All-Star (1984, 1986–1991)Achievements: All-NBA First Team (1987)
Achievements: 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1986–1988)
Achievements: 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1983, 1989, 1990)Achievements: 2× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1984, 1985)
Achievements: NBA All-Rookie First Team (1981)
Draft selection: 3 (2017)
Stats: 159 games played, 14.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.1 spg
Achievements: NBA All-Rookie First Team (2018)
Draft selection:
Stats: 1102 games played, 21.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.9 apg
Achievements: NBA champion (2008)40 - 3
Achievements: NBA Finals MVP (2008)Achievements: 10× NBA All-Star (2002–2006, 2008–2012)
Achievements: All-NBA Second Team (2009)
Achievements: 3× All-NBA Third Team (2002, 2003, 2008)Achievements: NBA All-Rookie First Team (1999)
Draft selection:39 - 4
Stats: 222 games played, 11.2 ppg, 4.0 rpgAchievements: NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2017)
Draft selection:
Stats: 450 games played, 17.6 ppg, 4.3 rpgAchievements: NBA All-Star (1992)
Draft selection:
12 (1977)Stats: 604 games played, 13.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.3 apg
Achievements: 2× NBA champion (1981, 1984)
Achievements: NBA Finals MVP (1981)
Draft selection:
6 (2014)37 - 5
Stats: 341 games played, 9.3 ppg, 3.9 apg, 1.7 spgAchievements: NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2015)
Draft selection:
6 (1996)Stats: 552 games played, 20.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 4.1 apg
Achievements: NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2005)31 - 6
Draft selection: 6 (1996)
Stats: 552 games played, 20.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 4.1 apg
Achievements: 3× NBA All-Star (1998, 2002, 2003)Achievements: NBA All-Rookie First Team (1997)
Draft selection:15 - 7
27 (2018)Stats: 32 games played, 2.5 ppg
Draft selection:
3 (1997)Stats: 51 games played, 11.1 ppg, 4.3 apg
Draft selection:
19 (1990)15 - 8
Stats: 476 games played, 11.6 ppg, 4.0 apg, 1.4 spgAchievements: NBA All-Rookie First Team (1991)
Draft selection:
25 (2004)Stats: 336 games played, 7.2 ppg, 1.0 spg
Achievements: NBA champion (2008)14 - 9
Draft selection: 5 (2007)
Stats: 222 games played, 14.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg
Draft selection:10 (2001)
Stats: 48 games played, 6.3 ppg
Draft selection:9 - 10
16 (2015)Stats: 272 games played, 7.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Draft selection:
19 (2010)7 - 11
Stats: 413 games played, 12.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.1 spgAchievements: NBA All-Defensive First Team (2016)
Achievements: NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2013)
Draft selection:6 - 12
15 (2004)Stats: 199 games played, 10.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg
Achievements: NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2005)
Draft selection:24 (1988)
Stats: 178 games played, 11.1 ppg, 6.5 apg, 4.1 rpg5 - 13
Achievements: NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1989)Draft selection:
13 (1989)
Stats: 112 games played, 4.9 ppgAchievements: NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1992)
Draft selection:5 - 14
241 games played, 1.6 ppgAchievements: 2× NBA champion (1984, 1986)
Draft selection:
24 (2004)4 - 15
Stats: 444 games played, 10.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.8 apgAchievements: NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1992)
Stats
48 games played, 6.3 ppg4 - 16
Draft selection: 16 (2015)
Stats
272 games played, 7.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg4 - 17
Draft selection:19 (2010)
Stats
413 games played, 12.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.1 spgAchievements
NBA All-Defensive First Team (2016)
NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2013)3 - 18
Draft selection:15 (2004)
Stats
199 games played, 10.3 ppg, 6.9 rpgAchievements
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2005)1 - 19
Draft selection:24 (1988)
Stats
178 games played, 11.1 ppg, 6.5 apg, 4.1 rpgAchievements
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1989)1 - 20
Draft selection:13 (1989)
Stats
112 games played, 4.9 ppg1 - 21
Draft selection:24 (1991)
Stats
444 games played, 10.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.8 apgAchievements
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1992)0 - 22
Draft selection:21 (1983)
Stats
241 games played, 1.6 ppgAchievements
2× NBA champion (1984, 1986)0 - 23
Draft selection:24 (2004)
Stats
Played 203 games, averaged 9.8 points per game, and 3.7 assists per game.0 - 24
Draft selection:2 (1986)
Stats
Never played for Celtics-1 - 25
Draft selection: 6 (1997)
Stats
Played 121 games, averaged 15.9 points per game, and 3.6 rebounds per game.Achievements
NBA All-Rookie First Team (1998)-1 - 26
Draft selection: 20 (1985)
Stats
Played 105 games, averaging 3.4 points per game.Achievements
NBA champion (1986)-1 - 27
Draft selection: 18 (2005)
Stats
Played 160 games, averaging 8.0 points per game.-1 - 28
Draft selection: 21 (2012)
Stats
Played 258 games, averaging 11.1 points per game, and 7.7 rebounds per game.-2 - 29
Draft selection: 14 (1995)
Stats
Played 462 games, averaging 9.2 points per game.-3 - 30
Draft selection: 9 (1994)
Stats
Played 139 games, averaging 8.8 points per game, and 6.6 rebounds per game.Achievements
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1995)-3 - 31
Draft selection: 21 (1992)
Stats
Never played for Celtics-4 - 32
Draft selection:8 (1978)
Stats
Never played for Celtics-4 - 33
Draft selection: 16 (2016)
Stats
Played 74 games, averaging 2.3 points per game.-4 - 34
Draft selection: 19 (1993)
Stats
Played 104 games, averaging 4.6 points per game.-4 - 35
Draft selection: 20 (2003)
Stats
Never played for Celtics-4 - 36
Draft selection: 11 (2001)
Stats
Played 101 games, averaging 3.1 points per game.-5 - 37
Draft selection:23 (1982)
Stats
Played 15 games, averaging 1.1 points per game.Also ranks #373 on Famous People Born in 1960
-5 - 38
Draft selection: 16 (2003)
Stats
Never played for Celtics-5 - 39
Draft selection: 23 (1981)
Stats
Played 102 games, averaging 3.3 points per game.-5 - 40
Draft selection: 30 (2008)
Stats
Played 27 games, averaging 1.0 points per game.-5 - 41
Draft selection: 21 (2001)
Stats
Played 8 games, averaging 0.8 points per game.-5 - 42
Draft selection: 24 (1984)
Stats
Never played for Celtics-5 - 43
Draft selection: 7 (2006)
Stats
Never played for Celtics-5 - 44
Draft selection: 25 (2011)
Stats
Played 10 games, averaging 3.1 points per game.-6 - 45
Draft selection:16 (2013)
Stats
Never played for Celtics-6 - 46
Draft selection: 22 (2012)
Stats
Played 6 games, averaging 1.2 points per game.-8 - 47
Draft selection: 11 (2000)
Stats
Played 24 games, averaging 1.5 points per game.-9 - 48
Draft selection: 17 (2014)
Stats
Played 89 games, averaging 2.3 points per game.-10
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