Seeing as the Boston Celtics will be playing for another Larry O’Brien trophy starting June 2nd, I thought it would be nice to get away from the articles that “experts” write to predict how this series will go, and instead look at some of the fun facts involving the teams, well, involved. In this article, we will be looking at NBA players you may not have known suited up for the Celtics at some point in their careers.
Dominique Wilkins
The human highlight reel was a force to be reckoned with during his time in Atlanta and was consistently one of the league’s best players. After years of dominating in Atlanta, it was time for Wilkins to pursue free agency, which he did, and let’s just say it didn’t really work out for him.
Wilkins would end up signing with the Celtics, and even though his role grew even bigger with the Celtics, it’s safe to say things didn’t work out. His stats dropped drastically and so did his happiness, prompting him to leave for Greece the following year. Yikes!
Stephon Marbury
Stephon Marbury was one of the most skilled guards of his era, bringing streetball to the mainstream and making defenders look foolish on a nightly basis. When people think about Marbury they often picture him wearing a T-Wolves, Knicks, or Nets, jersey, but did you know he wore the white and green for a season?
Marbury came to the Celts in 2009, his final season in the NBA before heading to China and becoming a legend down there as well. Unfortunately for Marbury, his Boston stint was the worst of his career, as he averaged just 3.8 points during his 24 games for the club, far off from his career average of 19.3.
Joe Johnson
Iso Joe is a certified legend in the NBA and is most known for his time with the Hawks and Nets of the association. However, did you know he was once drafted by the Celtics? Did you also know that he would end up playing one game for them 19 years later? It’s a true story!
Johnson would spend his first year in the league with the Celtics before being traded to the Phoenix Suns. 19 years later, on December 22, 2021, Joe would sign a 10-day contract with the Celtics and be the only other player apart from Dirk Nowitzki to score a basket for the same team at the ages of 20 and 40.
Gary Payton
The Glove earned his nickname for his defensive prowess and his offensive dynamism as well, as at the height of his career he put up 24.2 points per game. He would spend the majority of his career in Seattle but during the 2002-03 season Payton would be traded to the Bucks, and then would bounce around the NBA, landing in places such as L.A, Miami, and even…Boston.
Yes, Payton would end up playing a lone season for the Celtics in 2004-05 and would put up 11.3 points in 77 starts for the team. Not too shabby for a player at the end of his career.
Pete Maravich
“Pistol” Pete Maravich had a short, but prolific career, making 5 NBA All-Star games, 2 NBA All-Teams, and leading the league in scoring during the 1976-77 season. A prolific ball-handler and 3-point shooter, Maravich’s career was defined by excellence and injuries, cutting his career short in 1979-80. However, in his last season in the league, he decided to sign with the Boston Celtics, who housed a rookie Larry Bird on their roster. The Celtics would finish with the best record in the league that year, having Maravich come off the bench with 11.5 PPG.