The top 5 Boston Celtics rookie seasons of all-time

1. Larry Bird (1979-80): 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.7 steals

Larry Legend averaged more points and more assists as a rookie than Russell. Those assist numbers factored into my rankings, but I won’t be upset at anyone that argues in favor of Russell at #1 instead. Both players are all-time greats, Hall of Famers, and had fantastic rookie campaigns.

Bird gets the nod at #1 though because of how involved he got his teammates. The Celtics made a strong run in the playoffs in Bird’s rookie year as well, and like Russell, he delivered a championship in year 2. Larry ended up with 3 rings in his 13 year Celtics career, and he will forever be beloved in Boston.

Next: The 50 greatest Celtics of all-time

The Boston Celtics have a long history of great rookie seasons, and Jayson Tatum is looking to become the next player on that list. he has a lot of work to do, but he has a chance. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this list and this topic, so reach out to us on Twitter @CandCFansided! We welcome any and all feedback.