Whether we are talking about the Celtics’ golden age in the late 1950s and 1960s or the 1980s heyday of the “original” big three, some of the best players in NBA history to suit up for the team did so while playing the small forward position.
This was noted by the HoopsHype team when they recently assembled their ranking of the top 20 small forwards of all time; according to a panel assembled by our sister site, four Boston alumni made the cut.
Let’s see which Celtics they included in their all-time list and why.
No. 13 – Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce (34), of the Boston Celtics, celebrates with Ray Allen as the game against the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals comes to a close on Tuesday, June 17, 2008, in Boston. (Photo by Elise Amendola/AP)
According to HoopsHype, “Paul Pierce was a beastly scorer in his prime, one who could fill it up from all three levels and score on even the best defenders.”
“Pierce hit a lot of big shots in his day and was also quite clutch.”
No. 10 – Dominique Wilkins
Dominique Wilkins was more than just a dunker, according to H/H, who remembers him as one of the most explosive players of all time.
“With his physical advantages and unbelievable athleticism, he could score with the best of them, torturing opponents in the deep-to-short mid-range area.”
No. 7 – John Havlicek
“One of just four players in league history with eight championships, John Havlicek was a great scorer on the wing,” suggests HoopsHype.
“(He was) a player who could hit mid-range jumpers or get buckets in transition, and who was always willing to do the dirty work, as evidenced by the legendary “Havlicek stole the ball” moment from the 1965 East Finals.”
No. 2 – Larry Bird
Because he played for a club with a lot of talented players and had a shorter career than most NBA stars, Larry Bird may not have had the best statistical record, according to H/H.
The iconic swingman filled the stat sheet and had an excellent all-around game as a shooter, overall scorer, rebounder, and playmaker, so there’s no denying his standing as an all-time great.
