Retiring KG's number

[317]

Don Nelson, Jim Loscutoff, Cornbread....I dunno with with all do respect, having those guys up in the rafters but not KG or Ray just doesn't seem right to me.

they all won multiple championships, Maxwell was finals MVP for the first of his 2 and the other 2 won something like 4+ each. i think the player to compare KG and Ray to is DJ. that being said 1 more title is needed.

[Neurotic Guy]

Reggie is (and should be) a special case. He played 6 seasons and averaged 17.6 points per game -- over 20ppg in his last 2 seasons.  I think it was the right thing to do given that he died so young and had proven himself to be a star player.

Other retired C's with questionable bonafides include:
'Loscy' (a banger, but not prolific in the stats department in his 9 years --  his nickname not his number retired by his choice); Max (2 titles in 8 seasons as the 4th/5th best player on the team; a great Finals effort in '84); Easy Ed McCauley (6 seasons with the C's - no banners).  I think all these players deserve the honor, but all have questions marks.

Based on these as criteria, I guess KG and RA need another banner. In lieu of banner, 2 more productive years.

[thenotoriousjts]

Let's just retire 1-50 and get it over with.

[Eja117]

ray made 3 all-star teams, won a championship, broke the 3 point record in a c's uniform .

KG made 4 all-star teams, won DPOY, won title and completely changed the culture of the team making them legit contenders for 5 years .

I would say KG should be retired for sure and Ray has a strong case for it . If they win another title there is no doubt both should have their numbers retired .

I would also add Ray came back for less money and if KG does too I think they should probably both have them retired

[OmarSekou]

This is somewhat unrelated but I think we have too many numbers retired as it is. There should be a different way of honoring guys because we're running out of numbers to give new guys.

That said, let's see where both Ray and KG finish out their careers. I think if both retire as Celtics it changes things. It's still too early to decide.

[mc34]

I think the fact that we already have so many retired numbers means we should have higher standards for future number retirements. There becomes a point where you can't retire all numbers.

My thoughts exactly. If we were a franchise like the Bobcats or something then both would be locks. But we're not soooo.....

[nickagneta]

If we win another title they both go in the rafters.

If not, it depends on how much longer they play and if they finish their careers here.

For that reason I say KG probably gets retired because he will finish his career here. I can't see Ray returning as a bench player so his may not be retired.

[Neurotic Guy]

I think the fact that we already have so many retired numbers means we should have higher standards for future number retirements. There becomes a point where you can't retire all numbers.

My thoughts exactly. If we were a franchise like the Bobcats or something then both would be locks. But we're not soooo.....

How about a Loscy-esque 'KG' and 'Ray' in the rafters?

[Jon]

It is debatable now.  However, if they win another one, there isn't even a debate.  They'd have as many titles as Cowens, White,  DJ, and Maxwell, and only one fewer than Bird and McHale. 

[lightspeed5]

danny ainge said no more numbers are being retired because its hard to recruit stars when you cant offer numbers... he really said this.

[Bingbangbarros]

We're not talking Hall of Fame here.. If a player means alot to the organization his number should be retired. I don't think you necessarily need a criteria to have a team retire your number. With that said, KG and Ray played 5 years with the C's, all-star appearances, 1 title. That's good enough in my book.

Reggie was named captain during his final year, which was a great honor at the time. He was always one of the top Celtics during his time, increased his scoring every year in the play-offs and came up big in the clutch. Like the big 3, he could have had better numbers had he not played with the original Big 3.

[hardlyyardley]

uh uh...unless #18 goes up with him....that's the only reason DJ is up there

[mqtcelticsfan]

danny ainge said no more numbers are being retired because its hard to recruit stars when you cant offer numbers... he really said this.

If someone else ever wears 34, I'll never support that player.

[nickagneta]

We're not talking Hall of Fame here.. If a player means alot to the organization his number should be retired. I don't think you necessarily need a criteria to have a team retire your number. With that said, KG and Ray played 5 years with the C's, all-star appearances, 1 title. That's good enough in my book.

Reggie was named captain during his final year, which was a great honor at the time. He was always one of the top Celtics during his time, increased his scoring every year in the play-offs and came up big in the clutch. Like the big 3, he could have had better numbers had he not played with the original Big 3.

Reggie is retired because he was a team captain and at the time of his death he was the second best SG in the league and the assumption is he would have been one of the greatest Celtics ever.

[Bingbangbarros]

We're not talking Hall of Fame here.. If a player means alot to the organization his number should be retired. I don't think you necessarily need a criteria to have a team retire your number. With that said, KG and Ray played 5 years with the C's, all-star appearances, 1 title. That's good enough in my book.

Reggie was named captain during his final year, which was a great honor at the time. He was always one of the top Celtics during his time, increased his scoring every year in the play-offs and came up big in the clutch. Like the big 3, he could have had better numbers had he not played with the original Big 3.

Reggie is retired because he was a team captain and at the time of his death he was the second best SG in the league and the assumption is he would have been one of the greatest Celtics ever.

Although Reggie is my favorite player of all time, I'm always debating his legacy. Was he the 2nd best SG? I don't know. He didn't make the all-star team that year. Other top SG's: Drexler, Miller, Dumars, Richmond, Petrovic, Hawkins, Nick Anderson, Hornacek,Ron Harper. I think you could make the argument for some of these guys.