All-Time Celtics Team

The Boston Celtics, thanks to their unrivaled dominance in the 50s and 60s, are either No. 1 or No. 2 in every hypothetical ranking of NBA franchises. Over the years, the Celtics push out Hall of Fame players, legends of the game, and champions without batting an eye. These five stood out above the rest, and make up Boston's all-time team.

5. C: Bill Russell

Miami Heat v Boston Celtics / Mike Lawrie/Getty Images

If you fancy championships as the measure of success, than Russell has a legit claim to the GOAT title. Russell, arguably the greatest rebounder and defensive player who ever lived, won five MVP awards and averaged 22.5 rebounds per game for his career on his way to 11 championships. Russell became the first African-American coach in American professional sports and is equal parts phenom, trailblazer, and legend.

4. PF: Kevin McHale

McHale and Robert Parrish were the dominant duo inside that made KC Jones' Celtic teams go in the Late 80s. McHale, a seven-time All-Star and a six-time All-Defensive performer, was automatic from anywhere in the key and had one of the nastiest mid-range games of all time. The biggest fear any NBA player had in the Late 80s was driving to the rim and seeing No. 32 defending in the vicinity.

3. SF: Larry Bird

2019 NBA Awards Presented By Kia On TNT - Inside / Michael Kovac/Getty Images

24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game are legendary enough, but those numbers don't do Bird's legacy as a player justice. Sharing the court with three Hall of Famers, Bird emerged as the most complete player and best shooter of his era, winning three MVPs while leading the Celtics to three championships. Not until LeBron James came along was a forward so dominant and versatile.

2. SG: John Havlicek

Toronto Raptors v Boston Celtics / Mike Lawrie/Getty Images

No player played more games or scored more points in Celtic green than Havlicek, who passed away in April. Havlicek made 13 All-Star teams, 11 All-NBA teams, and eight All-Defensive teams, all the while winning eight championships and averaging 20.8 points per game for 15 years. Havlicek set the standard for all two-way wings that followed, and few have matched it.

1. PG: Bob Cousy

The younger generations might scoff at the level of competition Cousy played against, but what can't be denied is that Cousy was the first true star point guard in the NBA, and ran the league for over a decade. A 13-time All-Star, eight-time assists leader, and six-time champ, Cousy remains the model Celtic guard by which all others are judged to this day.

Bench

C Robert Parrish, PF Dave Cowens, PF Tom Heinsohn, SF Paul Pierce, SG Sam Jones, PG Dennis Johnson, PG Jo Jo White