MassLive Celtics' Quarter Century Team

[Donoghus]

Good read here.  2nd team is a tough one to put together.  My one quarrel would be IT4 being left off but I'm not sure who you'd replace.

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2025/12/celtics-newest-icons-and-champions-fill-masslive-quarter-century-team.html

First Team

-Pierce
-Garnett
-Tatum
-Brown
-Rondo

Second Team

-Ray
-Smart
-White
-Horford
-Antoine

Coach: Doc
GM: Danny

[Vermont Green]

Funny, people rank Rondo way higher than I would.  I would have IT higher and also Derrick White, Holiday, and even Smart.  How does someone like Kyrie Irving fit into this?  He is way better than Rondo.

I know people will jump all over Marcus Smart, but if he was on that 2008 era team instead of Rondo, that team still wins titles.  Smart is a much better shooter than Rondo (there are not many players you can say that about Smart), probably better defender, and a good enough passer.

[Celtics2021]

I would put IT over Antoine.  If it is truly a quarter-century team then there are really only 2-3 seasons of Walker that can be considered, and I would take IT in that comparison.  The 01-02 Celtics had a nice surprise run to the conference finals, but it was a surprise, and Pierce was the true leader of that team.  The 16-17 Celtics also made the conference finals, but as a #1 seed, and IT was the undisputed engine from that team.

[Roy H.]

Yeah, the first team is a no brainer.  The second team is tricky.

If you care about longevity and intangibles, Smart belongs on the team.  If it's wanting elite talent over a short time period (3 years) it's IT4.

Antoine is the other debatable one, both because he only played 3.5 years here this century and because of the style of his game.  I'd be tempted to take Perk over him.  But, I have no qualms with recognizing Toine, either.  I loved Employee #8.

[slamtheking]

second team I'd swap out IT for Smart.  that last season by IT was on a level I'd only ever seen Bird produce.

would keep Toine over Smart because being a Celtic really meant something to him