The 5 greatest Boston Celtics guards of all time

Ryan Feyre

BOSTON - JUNE 08: Boston Celtics fans hold up a banner in Game Two of the 2008 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers on June 8, 2008 at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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For years, the Boston Celtics have courted Hall of Fame caliber players. In this list, we look at five of the team’s best guards of all time.

It’s no secret that the Boston Celtics have been the ultimate NBA dynasty since the 1950s and 1960s. From Bill Russell to Larry Bird and Paul Pierce, the C’s have acquired Hall-of-Fame caliber players in each decade.

As legendary as the aforementioned players are, in this list, we are not delving into the greatest Celtics players of all time. Instead we are narrowing it down, and looking at the Celtics’ greatest guards of all time (up until 2017).

While stats can be the biggest aspect to study when determining someone’s place in history, there’s other conditions to investigate as well. For this list, championships, longevity, and impact in Boston (not other teams) will also be considered.

This will be solely based on my opinion, so leave comments below if you disagree or agree with my thoughts.

Counting down from five to one, here are the greatest guards in Boston Celtics history.

5. Rajon Rondo

One of my favorite early Boston Celtics memories was watching Youtube highlights of Rajon Rondo dialing up some of the most exciting passes that I’ve ever seen. He may be over-dramatic sometimes (notably during the 2007-08 reunion debacle), but you can’t deny his stellar point guard play from 2006-15.

4. Ray Allen

One of the greatest three-point shooters of all time has to be on this list. While he did average less points per game in Boston than he did with Milwaukee and Seattle, his presence was still felt. His dip in point totals was mostly as a result of being on team with Garnett and Pierce, rather than Ray Allen playing worse.

His free throw percentage in five seasons with the Celtics was a whopping 91 percent. He showed up big in his one title win with Boston, shooting 51 percent from long range in that Finals against the Lakers.

What makes his career in Boston so impressive was the fact that he was able to maintain that high level of shooting, even 12 years into his legendary career. He also made three all stars with the team.

He’ll most likely be known for his big shot in Game 6 of the 2013-14 Finals against San Antonio while with Miami, but people shouldn’t forget his run with the C’s. Without him, the Boston Celtics would have not made two finals.

3. Jo Jo White

The 1970s were considered the worst era in NBA history. Poor quality play, coke and racism, were rampant during this time period. Jo Jo White was a player who helped save basketball with his high quality play.

In his ten seasons with Boston, White averaged 18 points per game and shot 44 percent from the field. He did this without the three-point line too.

People forget that he was a two-time champion right before the Larry Bird era started. His points per game went up to 21 in the playoffs, and he was a Finals MVP in 1975-76.

He also had two seasons where he was top ten in assists, and two where he was top ten in field goals.

I put him this high because people forget about him as another high-caliber all star who helped keep a Boston Celtics team steady in an era where the league itself wasn’t.

White was inducted into the Hall-of-Fame in 2015 as a player. He died earlier this year.

2. John Havlicek

I have John Havlicek this high for many of the same reasons as White. He’s ahead of White because he played longer with Boston, and his stats were a tad bit better.

Havlicek’s resume is incredible. In 16 seasons with Boston, he won eight titles, made 13 all star games, and won a Finals MVP in 1973-74.

He also averaged 20 points per game, and stayed durable even though he averaged over 40 minutes a game two years in a row.

He was also another player who helped keep basketball a float, and probably has one of the most famous moments in NBA history. In Game 6 of the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, Havlicek had one of the most memorable steals ever.

Boston Celtics announcer Johnny Most also had one of the greatest calls of all time, as he screamed, “Havlicek stole the ball, it’s all over.” Just for that moment, Havlicek solidified his place as one of the greatest ever. He’d continue that stellar play for 13 more years.

1. Bob Cousy

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Besides Bill Russell, Bob Cousy was the other Celtics great that put the legendary franchise on the map. As a six-time champion, Cousy put up 18 points per game in the playoffs and regular season. In 1951, he had 31 points per game while shooting 40 percent from the field. Much like John Havlicek and Jo Jo White, this was before the three-point line.

He’s got it all; longevity, stats to back his play up, and championships. He was the first Celtics player to pass the torch to the next generation, and helped make basketball a viable sport.

Without him, there would be no Larry Bird or Paul Pierce in my opinion. His big-time scoring ability would have translated well to the modern-day NBA as well. I can’t really say that about the previous legends on this list.

I could have seen him be an exceptional 3 and D leader on a championship team nowadays. People can say that the level of play was weaker during the time he played, but Bob Cousy could have played in any era and still dominate.

Next: Boston Celtics: Ranking the top dunkers in modern team history

That is why he is my number one guard in Boston Celtics history.

Ryan Feyre

I've been an avid Boston sports fan my entire life, and I'm also a devoted music and movie lover