3 Boston Celtics Greats Who Don't Get Enough Respect

Alongside their rivals the Los Angeles Lakers, the Boston Celtics are the most storied team in NBA history. The Celtics' 17 championships are the most all-time, highlighted by an unbelievable EIGHT straight titles from 1959-1966.

Despite all their success, some Celtics legends don't end up getting the love they deserve. These three Celtics in particular, one could argue, should be a bit more appreciated by basketball fans.

3. John Havlicek

If you know who John Havlicek is, you know how great he was during his heyday. The problem is most fans outside of Boston don't even know the name. Havlicek was on the Celtics from 1962-1978, before the NBA's explosion in popularity in the 80s. He's the franchise's all-time leader in points, games and minutes, while ranking second in assists and fifth in rebounds.

2. Dennis Johnson

Johnson is the definition of an old-school point guard. He may not have had the flash of Rajon Rondo or Kyrie Irving, but Johnson was a key veteran on the Celtics in the 1980s. In seven seasons with Boston, Johnson flourished as the Celtics primary playmaker and lockdown defender. A leader on both ends, Johnson put up 12.6 points, 6.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game during his time in the iconic green and white and captured two titles, performing admirably in those championship runs. He averaged 16.5 points, 6.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 109 total playoff games with the C's.

1. Robert Parish

Parish looked father time in the eye and told it to take a hike. His 1,611 career games are the most in NBA history. Parish played 14 of his 21 seasons in Boston and was a huge part of their success in the 1980s. He was more than just a steady presence: Parish was a proficient mid-range strong scorer and defender all the way up to his age-42 season in Boston. He averaged 16.5 points and 10 rebounds per game across his Celtics career and won three titles.