MassLive Celtics' Quarter Century Team

[Donoghus]

I loved Jrue & Zinger (especially Jrue) but those two were nowhere around long enough to sniff this list.

[Atzar]

I think the first team is easy.  Second team is a lot harder.

Tatum:  8 seasons (not counting 2025-2026 to this point), 6 All Star appearances and a championship
Brown:  10 seasons, 4 All Star appearances (and likely a fifth this year) and a championship
Pierce:  13 seasons (cutting his first two years out because they were before the relevant time period), 10 All Star appearances and a championship
Garnett:  6 seasons, 5 All Star appearances and a championship
Rondo:  7.5 seasons, 4 All Star appearances and a championship

Those are my first team locks. 

Ray:  4.5 seasons, 3 All Star appearances and a championship
Horford:  7 seasons across two stints, 1 All Star appearance and a championship - I view Al as a mercenary tbh but it's very hard to argue him out of his spot here

Second team locks. 

With the last three spots, I'm taking Smart, White, and IT. 

Antoine Walker is an odd case because the relevant time frame cuts out four of his seasons and one of his All Star appearances.  I don't think his contributions after 2000 (three years and two All Star appearances) merit inclusion on the second team over IT, whose MVP-caliber season stands above anything Toine (or any of the remaining fringe candidates) did in this quarter century. 

KP, Jrue, Kyrie, and Kemba weren't here long enough to get much consideration - two years each.  Nobody else from the 2000s stands out to me.  Ricky Davis?  Young Al Jefferson?  Nah. 



For the record, I do acknowledge that I'm giving All Star appearances more weight than they deserve but they made the back-of-napkin math simple.

[Amonkey]

I think the first team is easy.  Second team is a lot harder.

Tatum:  8 seasons (not counting 2025-2026 to this point), 6 All Star appearances and a championship
Brown:  10 seasons, 4 All Star appearances (and likely a fifth this year) and a championship
Pierce:  13 seasons (cutting his first two years out because they were before the relevant time period), 10 All Star appearances and a championship
Garnett:  6 seasons, 5 All Star appearances and a championship
Rondo:  7.5 seasons, 4 All Star appearances and a championship

Those are your first team locks. 

Ray:  4.5 seasons, 3 All Star appearances and a championship
Horford:  7 seasons across two stints, 1 All Star appearance and a championship - I view Al as a mercenary tbh but it's very hard to argue him out of his spot here

Second team locks. 

With the last three spots, I'm taking Smart, White, and IT. 

Antoine Walker is an odd case because the relevant time frame cuts out four of his seasons and one of his All Star appearances.  I don't think his contributions after 2000 (three years and two All Star appearances) merit inclusion on the second team over IT, whose MVP-caliber season stands above anything Toine (or any of the remaining fringe candidates) did in this quarter century. 

KP, Jrue, Kyrie, and Kemba weren't here long enough to get much consideration - two years each.  Nobody else from the 2000s stands out to me.  Ricky Davis?  Young Al Jefferson?  Nah. 



For the record, I do acknowledge that I'm giving All Star appearances more weight than they deserve but they made the back-of-napkin math simple.

I think Antoine Walker would have been an absolute beast if he played in today's NBA by shooting all those 3s as a big man. His playing style would have been a lot conducive to today's playing style compared to Al Jefferson, which I think was a great offensive post player whose playing style wasn't that aligned with his era.

I am not seeing a lot of love for Kyrie Irving. He may be one of the best offensive players the Celtics had at the time, but it didn't really translate to winning and his whining was definitely less to be desired.

[aefgogreen]

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.

They made 2 finals with Rondo starting. Had they won in 2010, I think he would have been MVP.  Additionally, he made some all defense teams and put up some gaudy assist numbers (I admit he was stat hunting).I'm fine with him on the first team.

[Roy H.]

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.

They made 2 finals with Rondo starting. Had they won in 2010, I think he would have been MVP.  Additionally, he made some all defense teams and put up some gaudy assist numbers (I admit he was stat hunting).I'm fine with him on the first team.

4x All-Star, 4x All-Defense, 1x All-NBA, led the league in assists and steals, one ring

He was a prick and wore out his welcome, but he easily belongs on the first team here.

[aefgogreen]

I'm doing two - One for champions only (hey, I'm obsessive that way) and another that includes everyone.

First Team Champions
Garnett
Tatum
Pierce
Brown
Allen

Second Team Champions
Perkins
Horford
White
Holliday
Rondo

Notes - it was tough leaving KP off, but he was injured so much in the playoffs, I put Perk and Horford ahead of him. I also debated Allen over Ronda and gave the slight edge to Allen. His offense was critical and I thought he left the team in a classy manner.

First Team All Inclusive
Garnett
Tatum
Pierce
Brown
IT

Second Team All Inclusive
Horford
Walker
White
Allen
Rondo