Best draft picks in Boston Celtics history
The draft is a seminal moment for many incoming players. Putting aside competitive stakes, each young athlete's life is irreversibly altered by the fame and fortune that comes with being an NBA player. The exorbitant contract values ensures these players almost never have to worry about personal finances. Plus, these young guns get to play alongside some of their basketball idols for a living. With these high stakes, it's easy to see why the draft is so revered.
Likewise, the fortunes of a city and franchise can be completely transformed by a draft pick. LeBron James, for instance, brought Cleveland its first sports championship in 52 years and was also to the city's downtown economy. It almost goes without saying that Michael Jordan built the Chicago Bulls from the ground up into a championship team whose dynamic would reverberate through the decades.
With that in mind, compiled a list of the best draft picks in Boston Celtics history using data from . Players were ranked according to a formula that approximates their career achievements, career value, and play quality. The formula encompasses Basketball-Reference.com's , career win shares, and value over replacement player, aka VORP. For players drafted before data is available for VORP, half of the player's win shares were used in its place to calculate their 爆料TV score. Basketball Hall of Fame inductees were given a minimum of 60% for their Hall of Fame probability, indicating a worthy r茅sum茅 for their time but not up to par with some modern players. Scores were normalized to 100 based on the scoring leader. Keep reading to see where your favorite players fall on the list.
#50. Ryan Gomes
- 爆料TV score: 3.0
- 50th overall pick in 2005
- Played two seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 10.1 PTS, 4.6 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 19.4 win shares, -1.6 box plus/minus, 1.4 VORP
#49. Brad Lohaus
- 爆料TV score: 3.2
- 45th overall pick in 1987
- Played one season with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 5.9 PTS, 2.8 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 15.2 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 3.5 VORP
#48. Gerald Green
- 爆料TV score: 3.2
- 18th overall pick in 2005
- Played three seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 9.7 PTS, 2.5 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 18.4 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 2.4 VORP
#47. Joe Strawder
- 爆料TV score: 3.3
- 36th overall pick in 1964
- Career averages: 8.6 PTS, 9.9 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 10.8 win shares
#46. Steve Kuberski
- 爆料TV score: 3.4
- 52nd overall pick in 1969
- Played seven seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 5.5 PTS, 3.8 REB, 0.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 11.4 win shares
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
#45. Chuck Cooper
- 爆料TV score: 3.5
- 13th overall pick in 1950
- Played four seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 6.7 PTS, 5.9 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 11.6 win shares
- Accolade
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#44. Kendrick Perkins
- 爆料TV score: 3.8
- 27th overall pick in 2003
- Played seven seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 5.4 PTS, 5.8 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 27.9 win shares, -1.9 box plus/minus, 0.6 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2008 NBA Champ
#43. Toby Kimball
- 爆料TV score: 4.3
- 29th overall pick in 1965
- Played one season with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 6.1 PTS, 6.8 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.2 win shares
#42. Brian Shaw
- 爆料TV score: 4.9
- 24th overall pick in 1988
- Played two seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 6.9 PTS, 3.4 REB, 4.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 23.8 win shares, -1.0 box plus/minus, 5.3 VORP
- Accolades
--- 3x NBA Champ
#41. Bob Donham
- 爆料TV score: 5.4
- 25th overall pick in 1950
- Played four seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 6.7 PTS, 3.9 REB, 2.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 18.0 win shares
#40. Delonte West
- 爆料TV score: 6.1
- 24th overall pick in 2004
- Played four seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 9.7 PTS, 2.9 REB, 3.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 24.5 win shares, 0.9 box plus/minus, 8.7 VORP
#39. Payton Pritchard
- 爆料TV score: 6.7
- 26th overall pick in 2020
- Played six seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 10.6 PTS, 3.0 REB, 3.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 29.4 win shares, 1.5 box plus/minus, 8.5 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.2%
- Accolades
--- 2024 NBA Champ
#38. Robert Williams
- 爆料TV score: 6.9
- 27th overall pick in 2018
- Played five seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 7.1 PTS, 6.9 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 28.3 win shares, 4.6 box plus/minus, 9.6 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2021-22 All-Defensive
#37. Dave Robisch
- 爆料TV score: 7.1
- 44th overall pick in 1971
- Career averages: 11.4 PTS, 6.6 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 23.5 win shares
#36. Marcus Smart
- 爆料TV score: 7.3
- Sixth overall pick in 2014
- Played nine seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 10.5 PTS, 3.4 REB, 4.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 36.2 win shares, -0.5 box plus/minus, 7.6 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.0%
- Accolades
--- 2021-22 Def. POY
--- 3x All-Defensive
#35. Terry Rozier
- 爆料TV score: 7.4
- 16th overall pick in 2015
- Played four seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 13.9 PTS, 3.9 REB, 3.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 30.6 win shares, 0.2 box plus/minus, 10.1 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.0%
#34. Charlie Scott
- 爆料TV score: 8.1
- 106th overall pick in 1970
- Played two seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 20.7 PTS, 4.0 REB, 4.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 26.9 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1976 NBA Champ
--- 1970-71 ROY
--- 5x All Star
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#33. Dee Brown
- 爆料TV score: 8.3
- 19th overall pick in 1990
- Played seven seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 11.1 PTS, 2.6 REB, 3.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 33.4 win shares, 0.8 box plus/minus, 11.6 VORP
#32. Mel Counts
- 爆料TV score: 8.3
- Ninth overall pick in 1964
- Played two seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 8.3 PTS, 6.0 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 27.7 win shares
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
#31. Tony Allen
- 爆料TV score: 8.6
- 25th overall pick in 2004
- Played six seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 8.1 PTS, 3.5 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 38.7 win shares, 0.3 box plus/minus, 10.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2008 NBA Champ
--- 6x All-Defensive
#30. Reggie Lewis
- 爆料TV score: 9.3
- 22nd overall pick in 1987
- Played six seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 17.6 PTS, 4.3 REB, 2.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 38.9 win shares, 1.4 box plus/minus, 12.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#29. Jon Barry
- 爆料TV score: 9.4
- 21st overall pick in 1992
- Career averages: 5.7 PTS, 1.8 REB, 2.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 37.2 win shares, 1.8 box plus/minus, 13.4 VORP
#28. Dwight Powell
- 爆料TV score: 9.6
- 45th overall pick in 2014
- Career averages: 6.5 PTS, 4.2 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 50.5 win shares, 0.7 box plus/minus, 9.1 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.0%
#27. Rick Fox
- 爆料TV score: 9.8
- 24th overall pick in 1991
- Played six seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 9.6 PTS, 3.8 REB, 2.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 44.7 win shares, 0.0 box plus/minus, 11.7 VORP
- Accolades
--- 3x NBA Champ
#26. Jim Barnett
- 爆料TV score: 10.0
- Eighth overall pick in 1966
- Played one season with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 11.7 PTS, 3.1 REB, 3.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 33.2 win shares
#25. Kelly Olynyk
- 爆料TV score: 10.6
- 13th overall pick in 2013
- Played four seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 9.8 PTS, 5.0 REB, 2.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 47.1 win shares, 0.8 box plus/minus, 13.1 VORP
#24. Don Chaney
- 爆料TV score: 10.7
- 12th overall pick in 1968
- Played nine seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 8.4 PTS, 4.0 REB, 2.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 35.5 win shares
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
--- 5x All-Defensive
#23. Antoine Walker
- 爆料TV score: 11.1
- Sixth overall pick in 1996
- Played seven seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 17.5 PTS, 7.7 REB, 3.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 38.1 win shares, 0.3 box plus/minus, 18.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2006 NBA Champ
--- 3x All Star
#22. Jaylen Brown
- 爆料TV score: 12.4
- Third overall pick in 2016
- Played 10 seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 20.0 PTS, 5.5 REB, 2.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 47.5 win shares, 0.7 box plus/minus, 14.1 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 8.5%
- Accolades
--- 2024 NBA Champ
--- 2023-24 ECF MVP
--- 2023-24 Finals MVP
--- 2x All-NBA
#21. Chuck Share
- 爆料TV score: 12.6
- First overall pick in 1950
- Career averages: 8.3 PTS, 8.4 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 42.0 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1958 NBA Champ
#20. Al Jefferson
- 爆料TV score: 16.5
- 15th overall pick in 2004
- Played three seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 15.7 PTS, 8.4 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 71.0 win shares, 1.2 box plus/minus, 21.3 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2013-14 All-NBA
#19. Danny Ainge
- 爆料TV score: 16.7
- 31st overall pick in 1981
- Played seven seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 11.5 PTS, 2.7 REB, 4.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 71.5 win shares, 1.1 box plus/minus, 21.9 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
--- 1x All Star
#18. Cedric Maxwell
- 爆料TV score: 17.7
- 12th overall pick in 1977
- Played eight seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 12.5 PTS, 6.3 REB, 2.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 78.5 win shares, 1.7 box plus/minus, 22.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
--- 1980-81 Finals MVP
#17. K.C. Jones
- 爆料TV score: 21.6
- 14th overall pick in 1956
- Played nine seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 7.4 PTS, 3.5 REB, 4.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 38.6 win shares
- Accolades
--- 8x NBA Champ
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#16. Frank Ramsey
- 爆料TV score: 24.8
- Sixth overall pick in 1953
- Played nine seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 13.4 PTS, 5.5 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 49.2 win shares
- Accolades
--- 7x NBA Champ
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#15. Rajon Rondo
- 爆料TV score: 26.0
- 21st overall pick in 2006
- Played eight seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 9.8 PTS, 4.5 REB, 7.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 61.8 win shares, 1.2 box plus/minus, 23.2 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 60.6%
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
--- 3x AST Champ
--- 2011-12 All-NBA
--- 4x All-Defensive
#14. Tom Sanders
- 爆料TV score: 27.0
- Eighth overall pick in 1960
- Played 13 seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 9.6 PTS, 6.3 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 56.5 win shares
- Accolades
--- 8x NBA Champ
--- 1968-69 All-Defensive
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#13. Joe Johnson
- 爆料TV score: 28.2
- 10th overall pick in 2001
- Played one season with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 16.0 PTS, 4.0 REB, 3.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 82.9 win shares, 0.4 box plus/minus, 26.5 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 50.6%
- Accolades
--- 2009-10 All-NBA
--- 7x All Star
#12. Jayson Tatum
- 爆料TV score: 29.0
- Third overall pick in 2017
- Played nine seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 23.5 PTS, 7.4 REB, 3.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 67.2 win shares, 3.8 box plus/minus, 30.3 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 59.6%
- Accolades
--- 2024 NBA Champ
--- 2021-22 ECF MVP
--- 5x All-NBA
--- 2022-23 AS MVP
#11. Paul Westphal
- 爆料TV score: 30.4
- 10th overall pick in 1972
- Played three seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 15.6 PTS, 1.9 REB, 4.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 67.7 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1974 NBA Champ
--- 4x All-NBA
--- 5x All Star
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#10. Jo Jo White
- 爆料TV score: 30.7
- Ninth overall pick in 1969
- Played nine seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 17.2 PTS, 4.0 REB, 4.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 54.0 win shares
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
--- 1975-76 Finals MVP
--- 2x All-NBA
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#9. Tom Heinsohn
- 爆料TV score: 34.6
- Sixth overall pick in 1956
- Played nine seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 18.6 PTS, 8.8 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 60.0 win shares
- Accolades
--- 8x NBA Champ
--- 1956-57 ROY
--- 4x All-NBA
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#8. Dave Cowens
- 爆料TV score: 42.4
- Fourth overall pick in 1970
- Played 10 seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 17.6 PTS, 13.6 REB, 3.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 86.3 win shares
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
--- 1972-73 MVP
--- 1970-71 ROY
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#7. Kevin McHale
- 爆料TV score: 42.7
- Third overall pick in 1980
- Played 13 seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 17.9 PTS, 7.3 REB, 1.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 113.0 win shares, 2.5 box plus/minus, 34.3 VORP
- Accolades
--- 3x NBA Champ
--- 1986-87 All-NBA
--- 6x All-Defensive
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#6. Sam Jones
- 爆料TV score: 44.4
- Eighth overall pick in 1957
- Played 12 seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 17.7 PTS, 4.9 REB, 2.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 92.3 win shares
- Accolades
--- 10x NBA Champ
--- 3x All-NBA
--- 5x All Star
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#5. Chauncey Billups
- 爆料TV score: 44.6
- Third overall pick in 1997
- Career averages: 15.2 PTS, 2.9 REB, 5.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 120.8 win shares, 3.2 box plus/minus, 43.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2004 NBA Champ
--- 2003-04 Finals MVP
--- 3x All-NBA
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#4. John Havlicek
- 爆料TV score: 56.3
- Ninth overall pick in 1962
- Played 16 seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 20.8 PTS, 6.3 REB, 4.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 131.7 win shares
- Accolades
--- 8x NBA Champ
--- 1972-73 MBWA NBA MVP
--- 1973-74 Finals MVP
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#3. Paul Pierce
- 爆料TV score: 58.5
- 10th overall pick in 1998
- Played 15 seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 19.7 PTS, 5.6 REB, 3.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 150.0 win shares, 3.7 box plus/minus, 65.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2008 NBA Champ
--- 2007-08 Finals MVP
--- 4x All-NBA
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#2. Larry Bird
- 爆料TV score: 62.0
- Sixth overall pick in 1978
- Played 13 seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 24.3 PTS, 10.0 REB, 6.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 145.8 win shares, 6.9 box plus/minus, 77.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 3x NBA Champ
--- 3x MVP
--- 2x Finals MVP
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#1. Bill Russell
- 爆料TV score: 65.8
- Second overall pick in 1956
- Played 13 seasons with Boston Celtics
- Career averages: 15.1 PTS, 22.5 REB, 4.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 163.5 win shares
- Accolades
--- 11x NBA Champ
--- 5x MVP
--- 4x TRB Champ
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
