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Boston Celtics B List All-Stars

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 There are 3 major questions that will be debated on Causeway Street until the end of time

  1. "What would have happened if Len Bias lived?"
  2. "How can anybody possibly root for the Lakers?"
  3. "What is your All-time Celtics starting 5?"

John Karalis's new book "The Boston Celtics All-Time All-Stars" attempts to answer #3, as he chronicles the history of the franchise through each position, and attempts to make a team of 12 players for the All-Time Celtics. This is a wonderful exercise, as Celtics history is littered with incredible players, making for a lively argument with any C's fan.

In the spirit of this, I decided to look back and create a Celtics "B-List" starting 5. You likely won't find any of these guys in any books, as none of them could ever be considered among the greats. They all did, however, play in Boston and make an impact, so their place in Celtics history is solidified. 

Point Guard - Brian Shaw

Best Season in Boston (90-91): 13.8 PPG, 7.6 APG, 1.3 STL

Shaw was a steady presence during the Big 3's last stand, as he paced the green in assists during the 91 campaign. Although Bird, McHale, and Parish were aging, the Cs had a good run that year, finishing 56-26 and taking the #2 seed in the East. Shaw was an integral part of that team, starting more games than anyone but eternal ironman Robert Parish. While Shaw would go on to have a long and successful NBA career, this was probably his best individual season, as his points, assists, and steal averages all ended up being a career high, despite it being only his 2nd year in the league.

Shooting Guard - Larry Siegfried

Best Season in Boston (68-69): 14.2 PPG, 4.7 APG, 3.6 RPG

Larry Siegfried played on one of the greatest college basketball teams in history. He was a Co-Captain of the 1960 Ohio State Buckeyes, who had 5 players play in the NBA and included names like John Havlicek, Jerry Lucas, and Bobby Knight. He started his pro career in the ABL, and when the league collapsed, he received a call from his old friend John Havlicek convincing him to try out for the Boston Celtics. Siegfried ended up being a vital cog of those Celtics teams, winning 5 championships and twice leading the league in free throw percentage. Siegfried was a perfect fit for the legendary fast-breaking Celtics as a vicious defender and athlete who thrived in transition. 

Small Forward - Ricky Davis

Best Season in Boston (05-06): 19.7 PPG, 5.3 APG, 4.5 RPG

Few players in Celtics history have been as polarizing as Ricky Davis. He was known for his selfish antics, such as his infamous shot at his own basket in order to secure a triple double. Yet, he possessed amazing gifts as an uber-athletic wing who could create and score with the best of them. Acquired to form a potent 1-2 punch with Paul Pierce, the Celtics could never get their act together with Davis, and his tenure was mired in mediocrity. Nonetheless, he provided plenty of highlight plays in green, and provided even more angry Tommy rants.

Power Forward - Dino Radja

Best Season in Boston (05-06): 19.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 50% FG

Although Radja is in the Basketball Hall of Fame, his NBA contributions are not what got him there. A well-established international player, Radja had great success on the FIBA circuit before joining the Cs in 1993. Radja was a part of the first crop of impact international players to make the league, such as Toni Kukoc, Drazen Petrovic, and Vlade Divac. Dino was a matchup nightmare, with the strength to power through smaller matchups, but the quickness and skill to beat Goliaths. Had Radja been able to play his whole career in the NBA, he would likely be regarded as one of the pillars of international advancement in the league.

Center - Al Jefferson

Best Season in Boston (05-06): 16.0 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 51.4% FG

Big Al was supposed to be the next great Celtic big man. Drafted out of high school in 2004, Jefferson had a bruising physical presence that was complemented by his soft touch around the rim. After a disappointing first 2 years, he exploded in his third year, which set up his biggest contribution to the Celtics. In the off-season after his best year in green, Al was the centerpiece of the trade that brought Kevin Garnett, and Banner 17, to Boston. Jefferson went on to have a very successful NBA career, even making an All-NBA team in 2014, but he will always be connected to KG in Celtics lore.

So there you have it folks. Maybe you remember some of these guys, maybe you don't. Nonetheless, all of them played for the Celtics, and contributed in one way or another. With a franchise that is so rich in history, it can be easy to forget about the number of good, but not great, players that have graced the parquet. 


*All stats from basketball-reference.com. Photo Credit*

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